Dr. Alan Godlas to conduct sessions of Islamic Sufi contemplation and to discuss contemplative practice and social justice

Announcement: Dr. Alan Godlas ('Abd al-Haqq), will conduct three sessions involving  contemplative practice in Islamic Sufism, will make a brief presentation on contemplative practice and social justice in Islamic Sufism, and then will participate in a panel discussion on this topic at the International Symposium for Contemplative Studies in San Diego organized by the Mind and Life Institute. This will take place at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina on Nov. 11 and Nov. 12, 2016.

Dr. Godlas is an Associate Professor of Religion at the University of Georgia and is authorized to teach in the Shadhili and Naqshbandi Sufi orders.

Nov. 11, Friday, 3:15-3:45 Engaged Contemplative Practice in Islamic Sufism: Vocal Emphasis

This workshop will involve beginning instruction in two methods of engaged contemplation in Islamic Sufism, consisting of silent and vocal forms of "remembrance" (dhikr). The ultimate purpose of these methods is to retrain the individual's consciousness to respond — at each moment in one's daily life — toward one's consciousness and whatever appears in it, responding with an engaged contemplative stance consisting of a continual re-embrace of unconditional gratitude. Structurally, this workshop will involve alternating periods of contemplation and instruction with discussion. It will include both vocal and silent dhikr, but this workshop will emphasize seated vocal dhikr.

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Nov. 12, Saturday 8:00-8:25 Engaged Contemplative Practice in Islamic Sufism: Silent Emphasis

This workshop will have the same format as the previous workshop session, including both vocal and silent dhikr; but this workshop will emphasize seated silent dhikr.  

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Nov. 12, Saturday 4:00-4:30 Engaged Contemplative Practice in Islamic Sufism: Vocal, Silent, Living

This workshop will involve three methods of engaged contemplation in Islamic Sufism, consisting of silent and vocal forms of "remembrance" (dhikr) and "remembrance in life." In addition to the previous two workshops' vocal and silent forms of contemplation,  this workshop will involve "remembrance in life" (consisting of short, non-strenuous periods of walking dhikr). For this workshop, a smartphone with an alarm or a watch is recommended. Also, for anyone with a physical disability, the walking "remembrance in life" practice can be modified according to individual needs.

Contemplative Practice and Social Justice: Panel Discussion  

2:45-3:45 Saturday, Nov. 12

Presenters:

Beth Berila, Professor, St. Cloud State University

Alan 'Abd al-Haqq Godlas PhD, Associate Professor, University of Georgia

Rev. Takafumi Kawakami, Deputy Head Priest, Shunkoin Temple & Zen Center

John Makransky PhD, Associate Professor of Buddhism and Comparative Theology, Boston College

Erin Jien McCarthy PhD, Chair and Professor of Philosophy , St. Lawrence University

Location:

Nautilus 5

Description:

Inspired by questions arising out of Rhonda Magee’s keynote address earlier in the day, this roundtable brings together contemplative faculty to discuss pressing issues in the area of contemplative practice and social justice. This panel will discuss key questions in the field including: How can contemplative practices — as individuals and communities — help us more deeply unlearn privilege and internalized oppression, allowing us to engage in more compassionate and just dialogues across difference? How are contemplative practices sometimes used to "spiritually bypass" an accounting of systematic oppression and our various roles in them? What kinds of things go wrong when social justice activity lacks a contemplative discipline to inform it? What kinds of things go wrong when contemplative practices are offered to people as a solution to their problems without enough awareness of the social and institutional systems in which those people are embedded?  

Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this activity, participants should be able to:1) Define how contemplative practices can help us--as individuals and communities-- more deeply unlearn privilege and internalized oppression;2) Explain how contemplative practices sometimes used to "spiritually bypass" an accounting of systematic oppression and our various roles in them;3) Evaluate what goes wrong when social justice activity lacks a contemplative discipline to inform it;4) Identify the kinds of things that go wrong when contemplative practices are offered to people as a solution to their problems without enough awareness of the social and institutional systems in which those people are embedded.

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To register and for more information on the conference and Dr. Godlas' sessions see https://www.eiseverywhere.com/ehome/iscs-2016/

Key Features of the Faiths

By Andrew Nelson, "Interfaith Speakers Share, Explain Faith Rituals" - The Georgia Bulletin - Atlanta, GA, USA

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Atlanta: Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory joined an interfaith panel of scholars and clergy as they shared insights on the rituals of the Jewish, Muslim and Christian faiths.

Touching on issues of language, communal prayer, and the essence of liturgy, the speakers revealed key features of the faiths, including distinctions between Catholic and Protestant Christian traditions.

Some practices in different faiths have similarities. The Catholic liturgy is rooted in Jewish table fellowship. Islam and Judaism value individual prayers in the homes of believers. Some Protestant traditions are adopting Catholic disciplines, such as fasting, that church reformers who began the denominations did away with in the 16th century.

Georgia is overwhelmingly a Protestant state, according to the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. Some 70 percent of people here worship in the Protestant tradition, followed by Catholics, with 12 percent. The Jewish and Muslim faiths make up 1 percent or less of the population.

Close to 350 women attended the 10th annual interfaith luncheon. The Atlanta chapter of the National Council of Jewish Women hosted it at The Temple, the oldest synagogue in Atlanta.
The guests were Archbishop Gregory; Rabbi Peter Berg, senior rabbi at The Temple; Alan Godlas, an associate professor of religion at the University of Georgia; Martha Moore-Keish, an assistant professor of theology at Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur; Laurie Patton, a Candler professor of religions at Emory University.

The speakers fielded questions from Judy Marx, the executive director of the American Jewish Committee.

From the Catholic point of view, Archbishop Gregory said the church borrows much from Jewish worship. From the communal table meal to the proclamation of the Scripture, these are necessary and important components of Catholic prayer life, he said.
“As Catholics, we are deeply aware of our rootedness in Jewish ancestry,” he said.

Jewish liturgy has an outward focus, Rabbi Berg said. When people leave the service, their mission is to help make the world a better place, he said. Its theology recognizes God’s ongoing creative acts, the revelation of God’s word in the Torah and God’s redemption of all people by freeing the Jews out of Egypt, he said.

For a Muslim service, the faithful must face toward Mecca, according to Godlas, a scholar on Islamic and Arabic studies. God is “the sustainer of everything in existence” according to Muslim belief, he said. And gratitude is the key human quality of people toward God, he said. Muslim postures of bowing and prostrating are a reminder that without God’s constant sustenance, nothing is possible, he said.

Protestant liturgy—a broad term which covers mainstream to evangelical churches—generally favors proclaiming readings from the Bible, sacraments and “prayers in the name of Jesus,” said Moore-Keish. The sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper are key parts of a Protestant liturgy, although they may not be celebrated weekly, she said.

On the issue of language, faith traditions wrestle with whether followers hold to ancient languages or use the contemporary.

Godlas said Muslims pray together in Arabic and it binds people together no matter their culture. But individuals pray on their own in their own language, he said.

For Jews, it isn’t required to pray together in Hebrew. In fact, the Reform branch of Judaism in the 19th century started as a way for Jews who didn’t speak Hebrew to worship in a common language, Rabbi Berg said. But now, Hebrew is becoming a bigger part of the service, he said.

For Catholics, Latin was the language of prayer for some 500 years, said the archbishop. The church’s prayer language evolved from Jesus’ Aramaic to Greek, a universal language in the ancient world, to Latin, which was the language of commerce, he said. There is a “serious debate” among Catholics about language and worship, he said. Since the Second Vatican Council, the custom has been people should have access to the language of worship, he said. The challenge is to translate the ideas expressed in the fixed language of Latin into contemporary language, he said. The archbishop compared the work to putting Shakespeare’s Elizabethan English into current day Japanese.

Panelists also shared the favorite ritual in their faith tradition.

Moore-Keish said the eucharistic celebration moves her. The ritual has many rich layers, from sharing food with people and the biblical level of recalling Jesus’ sacrifice to building community among believers, she said.

Godlas said Muslims have a practice of “grateful remembrance” of God’s names. It carries with it an attitude of appreciating every thought and feeling as a gift from God, he said.

The archbishop said his favorite ritual is Holy Week. The observance “really captures everything that it means to be Catholic,” he said. The week follows Jesus from the glory of Palm Sunday to Good Friday, where he is nailed to the cross, to the Easter Vigil, where newcomers join the church, and Easter, marking his new life. “It captures the joy and the essence of our Catholic sacramental, liturgical tradition,” he said.

Rabbi Berg said his favorite moment is the blessing shared both within a congregation and in the family. He talked about the privilege of the blessing when he and his wife hold hands over their three children and recite the prayer from the Book of Numbers: “May God bless you and keep you, may the light of God’s presence shine upon you and inspire you.”

Pictures (above, left to right): Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory, Dr. Alan Godlas; (below, left to right): Rabbi Peter Berg, Dr. Martha Moore-Keish. Photos by Michael Alexander.

God As a Friend

By Mehrnoosh Torbatnejad - NYU Livewire - NY, USA
Saturday, January 5, 2008

Rumi for Twentysomethings: a new generation finds meaning in the writings of a 13th century mystic poet

Eight centuries after he lived, the Persian mystic poet Jalal al-Din Rumi still fascinates readers, as the world’s bestselling spiritual poet.

His nonsectarian love for God and his passion for creation attract people of all ages, including Madonna and Deepak Chopra. But recently, younger people have been tuning in to his work, especially as UNESCO commemorated the poet’s 800th birthday in 2007.

“It’s just so relaxing and so calming to read his work,” said Bijan Roboubi, 20, a student at California State University at Pomona.

“We go through life in such a fast pace, especially here in America, and when you stop and read Rumi, you realize you have to live life, and not just go through it” he said.

“With his poems, he makes you realize that every moment is precious and it makes you love yourself, others around you and life in general” he added.

The 800th birthday’s celebration brought a string of events to universities, giving many college students their first taste of Rumi.

“Generally it’s the performance that seems to bring out the most students,” said Alan Godlas, a professor of Islamic studies at the University of Georgia. They’ve heard of whirling dervishes, which “rings a far-off bell in their consciousness,” he said.

“Rumi is generally regarded as the hottest selling poet in the English translation,” Godlas said. “He’s made a mark in their minds and in their hearts.”

Although enduringly popular in the East, Rumi was little known in the West until the 1920s, when Cambridge University professor Reynold A. Nicholson* began translating his work into English.

In the 1970s, Rumi’s popularity leapt again, after American poet Coleman Barks produced a more accessible, free-verse translation.

Shahram Shiva, a performance poet, scholar and translator of Rumi books, has presided over crowded Rumi evenings at Yale, Columbia University, Iona College and New York University.

“Rumi is very timeless,” Shiva said. “Rumi deals with issues of humanity. They would be relevant 5,000 years ago and 5,000 years from now.”

“I never ever look at God as a power who wants us to just worship him and be afraid of him,” said Iman, 26, a student at the University of Windsor, in Ontario, Canada.

“I look at God as a friend, lover and someone who is always there to help you. I see the same meanings in Rumi’s poems, too” he said.

Groups like the Rumi Forum, founded in 1997 in Washington D.C., often sponsor interfaith gatherings at universities, which may include whirling dervish performances.

“It doesn’t surprise me that [Rumi] is appealing to [students], because his message of love and open-mindedness touches hearts and minds,” said Jena Luedtke, the Forum’s director of interfaith and cultural dialogue.

University of Utah professor Rasoul Sorkhabi recently started a Rumi Poetry Club at a Salt Lake City public library, where sessions increasingly draw a younger crowd.

“Rumi’s poetry is not directed toward any particular age,” he said. “But college students who have an interest in literature…they want to read Rumi.”

Rumi: Bridge to the Soul: Journeys into the Music and Silence of the Heart (as translated by Coleman Barks) was in late 2007 number one in the religious and spiritual poetry category on barnesandnoble.com.

But Godlas thinks Rumi will only turn into a mass phenomenon if American culture changes.

“In order for Rumi's popularity to increase, there will need to be a paradigm shift -he said- such as a greater emphasis on educating Americans to enhance their emotional intelligence. People will then be more receptive.”

[Photo by Leila Geramian]

[*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reynold_A._Nicholson ].

To Serve Is Better than To Be Served

By Dr Amir Farid Isahak - The Star - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Saturday, August 11, 2007

Some people talk about love and kindness, but real masters walk the talk. They are embodiments of what they teach.

I have mentioned many masters in my articles, and in my search for knowledge, healing and wisdom, I continue to meet many more.

This weekend I will be involved in a Spiritual Transformation & Healing workshop conducted by two Sufi teachers: Dr Suriyakhatun Osman and Professor Alan Godlas.

Professor Alan Godlas is from the Department of Religion at the University of Georgia, US. He is a scholar of Arabic, Islam, Sufism and comparative religion. He embraced Islam in 1974 and entered the Sufi spiritual path soon after, and is now the co-moderator of the most comprehensive websites on Sufism.

He has written many papers on Islam and Sufism, and is the preferred expert by many governments and organisations when they need advice or inputs on Islam. He will be teaching us spiritual transformation in our daily lives by means of gratitude, remembrance and love.

Dr Suriyakhatun Osman is a medical colleague who has also ventured beyond the restrictive borders of medical science. She is a Reiki master, a homoeopathic practitioner and a Sufi-healing teacher, among other things.

Seeing some similarities in the energy concepts of Reiki and Sufi-healing, she and several other Sufis who also practice Reiki have blended the two into Sufi-Reiki. She is an authorised teacher of the Sufi Healing Order, a branch of the Sufi Order of North America, which was started by Pyir Inayat Khan, a well-known and well-respected Sufi shaykh who was entrusted to bring Sufism to America.

Perhaps the most famous Sufi-healing master is Shaykh Moinuddin Chishti, author of The Book of Sufi Healing. He is a friend of my shaykhs, and, like many other Sufi masters, is based in the US.

It is apparent that the Sufis are all over the US, and Sufism is partly responsible for the rise of Islam there. For example, through my Naqshbandi Order shaykh, Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani Al-Haqqani, more than 10,000 Americans have embraced Islam after accepting the Sufi teaching of love, compassion and gratitude.

It is no wonder that even presidential-hopeful Hillary Clinton acknowledges that Islam is the fastest growing religion in the US.

If Islam is the misunderstood religion, then Sufis are the misunderstood Muslims. All Sufi masters preach love, compassion and gratitude as healing for the soul, but the physical body cannot be ignored even by those who seek only spiritual fulfilment.

To have a healthy body is a spiritual requirement, because much of the religious and spiritual duties require a healthy body for them to be executed to the best possible level. To serve is better than to be served.

A healthy body means you can help others. A sick body means you need help.

My grandshaykh is Shaykh Muhammad Nazim Al-Haqqani, the grandmufti of Northern Cyprus, and father-in-law of Shaykh Muhammad Hisham. He was the one who described the qi or life-force that I was gifted with when I had my first audience with him over 15 years ago.

And his description matched what my wife could see (she is gifted with the ability to see energy and auras), and that of the aura photograph taken of me by Reiki Master Yongi (a Malaysian based in Australia). All the other aura photographs taken at crystal shops were not accurate.

Here is the teaching of Shaykh Muhammad Nazim about healing:
“In the name of GOD, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate.

“Real healing is to be able to send rays of power through your hands to the body of the patients who must be ready to receive the healing. Most people are closed and it is impossible even for prophets to reach them. A closed socket cannot transport electricity. On a patient like that you must try to crack open a weak point of their shell where you can enter.

“Since the beginning of time people have been in need of healing, physically and spiritually. Authorised healers will always be on earth. Many of them are totally hidden and you would never imagine them having such powers. If someone is seriously looking for them, they will find. It is not something you will find in books...”
Shaykh Nazim al-Haqqani an-Naqshbandiyya

The healing of the soul and the healing of the body are very much intertwined. Thus it is common to see many natural healers becoming inclined to spiritual practices. Conversely, many seekers on the spiritual path find that they are given the gift of healing for the physical body.

In both, the most important organ is the heart. On the physical plane, heart disease is the most common chronic, debilitating disease (even though cancer is gradually taking over as the top killer because of poor success in treatment, while heart disease can be managed by modern medicine).

On the spiritual plane, the diseases of the spiritual heart are what rob us of inner peace, which in turns translates to fear, worry, uncertainty, pride, greed, ingratitude, apathy and stressful living.

So to those of you who are not yet on the healing path, of spirituality or physical health, I would encourage you to consider starting the journey, so that you may start healing yourselves, and hopefully help heal the world too.

May your lives be filled with inner peace, happiness and good health.

[About the Author: Dr Amir Farid Isahak is a medical specialist who practises holistic, aesthetic and anti-ageing medicine. He is a qigong master and founder of SuperQigong
http://www.superqigong.com/ ]

[Visit Dr Suriyakhatun Osman's website:
http://holisticleaders.com/]

Interfaith Conference on the Abrahamic Prophets

An Interfaith Conference on Abrahamic Prophets will be held in NYC at Fordham University on April 20-21 put on by the Sufi Circle of NY

"O people of the book! Come to common terms as between us and you: that we worship none but God, that we associate no partner with him, that we shouldnot appoint from among ourselves lords and patrons other than God”. Qur'an, Ale Imran Surah 3:64

Friday April 20, 2007
5:30 pm
Registration and Dinner
6:25 pm
Welcome Introduction by Sufi Circle
6:30 pm
Prophet Mohammad and Interfaith dialogue by. Dr. Alan Godlas, University of Georgia [bio]
7:00 pm
The Nature of the prophetic ideal and Sufism by Sheikha Fariha al-Jerrahi, Nur Ashki Jerrahi Sufi Order [bio]
7:30 pm
Christian perspectives on Islam and Prophet Mohammad by Rev. Cannon John Peterson, Washington National Cathedral [bio]
8:00 pm
Panel Discussion Moderated by Dr. Iraj Anvar [Bio] Panelists: Dr. Alan Godlas, Sheikha Fariha al-Jerrahi, and Rev. Cannon John Peterson
8:30 pm
Whirling Dervishes by Murshida Khadija Goforth and Dervishes, Sufi Ruhaniat International Chishti lineage of Pir-o-Murshid Hazrat Inayat Khan [bio]
9:30 pm
Persian Music by Saba Ensemble Mr. Majid Khosroshahi, Dr. Maziar Khoshsima, Arieh Aghajani [bio]

Saturday April 21, 2007
5:30 pm
Registration and Dinner
6:25 pm
Welcome by Sufi Circle
6:30 pm
Islamic view of Jesus and Moses by Dr. Nasrollah Pourjavady, University of Tehran, Iran [bio]
7:00 pm
Interfaith Spiritual Peace - Quests in the Light of the Babel Problem by Dr. Bill Whitehouse [bio] 7:30 pm
Islam and world peace by Rev. Monsignor Thomas J. Hartman [bio]
7:40 pm
Judaism and Islam by Rabbi Abraham Kiss and Garry Krupp, Pave the Way Foundation [bio]
8:10 pm
Nur Mohammadiyya: The Prophetic Light in the Islamic Traditionby Dr. Andrew Vidich, Interfaith Council of New York [bio]
8:40 pm
Panel Discussion Moderated Murshida Khadija Gorforth [bio] Panelists: Dr. Nasrollah Pourjavady, , Dr. Bill Whitehouse, Rabbi Kiss, and Dr. Andrew Vidich.
9:00 pm
Musical Performance of "Rumi: Path of Love." by Voicepoint Ensemble, Vista Foundation [bio]

Details at: www.suficircle.com or click on the title above

Mevlana Rumi’s First Visit to the European Parliament

By Selçuk Gültasli, Brüksel Temsilcisi (Brussels Representative) - Today's Zaman, Turkey
Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Brussels: Mevlana Muhammed Jelaluddin Rumi was commemorated at the European Parliament [on Monday 26th] with a panel discussion focusing on his message of tolerance.

Organized by the Brussels-based Intercultural Dialogue Platform (IDP) and members of the European Parliament Cem Özdemir, Emine Bozkurt and Sajjad Karim, the panel focused on the relevance of Mevlana’s message to today’s Europe.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has declared 2007 Year of Mevlana and the European Commission has already earmarked 2008 as Year of Intercultural Dialogue.

Despite lasting several hours, the panel discussion generated a lot of interest and whirling dervishes who came from Konya, the central Anatolian city where Mevlana taught, performed a sema (whirling ceremony) afterwards.

Dr. İhsan Yılmaz of the University of London, Georgia University’s Dr. Alan Godlas and Professor Marc Luyckx Ghisi, the director of the Vision 2020 think tank, spoke at the panel titled “Rethinking Mevlana: What if Mevlana Lived in Today’s Europe.”

Yılmaz emphasized that Mevlana’s teachings were represented today by a group of renowned Islamic scholars, among them Fethullah Gülen and Seyyid Hossein Nasr, both famous prolific writers whose works are read by millions.

Godlas read Persian lines from Mevlana’s masterpiece, the Mesnevi, attentively listened to by the audience.

Bozkurt, one of the hosts of the night, pointed out that Mevlana had begun his dialogue efforts centuries before the EU declared 2008 the Year of Intercultural Dialogue.

“Europe sorely needs Mevlana’s message, which comes from centuries before and never gets old, more than ever,” noted Bozkurt, adding that she was particularly happy to see the hall where the panel discussion was being held filled to capacity.

Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Ankara deputy Zeynep Dağı, Jerzy Montag, a federal MP from the German Green Party and Mahinur Özdemir, a member of the council in Schaerbeek Municipality also attended the Mevlana night at the European Parliament.

Dr. Mehmet Refii Kileci captivated the guests by showing his paper-marbling (ebru) skills during the four-hour-long program.

Report from Yemen: Dhikr amidst the bombs

Report from a Yemeni friend today in Yemen:

The situation is extremely catastrophic.

We are no longer very disturbed and worried

by the planes, rockets, and bombs

because when death comes

it will not be possible to stop it.

Our true concern is the

wretched and deteriorating economic situation....

I want to thank you

for my memories of the sessions of dhikr

[editor: chanting meditation, the sessions that we used to have at your house].

When the planes circle above us

and we hear the reverberations

of the violent explosions,

I gather my family,

and we begin a session of dhikr.

During it, we forget all that is going on around us,

and we feel tranquility

and indescribable peace.

(Translated from the Arabic by Alan Godlas)

[Note: For a good general article on the conflict in Yemen see "Yemen Crisis: Who is Fighting Whom?" from BBC News 14 October 2016]

Start of Construction

Staff Reporter, "Construction of big mosque starts in Dashoguz province of Turkmenistan" - Turkmenistan.Ru - Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
Saturday, October 18, 2008

A ceremony to mark the start of construction of a big mosque was held on 17 October in Dashoguz province of Turkmenistan.

Turkmen government officials, the Ambassador of Turkey in Turkmenistan Hussein Avni Bychkaly, province top-management, clerics and honorary elders of Turkmenistan attended the ceremony.

The new mosque with a praying room for 1500 people is meant as a gift from the people of Turkey to Turkmenistan.

The mosque will also have a big museum and a conference hall as well as a room for ritual meals, sadaka, for 1000 people.

The construction will be carried out by Turkish GAP Inshaat company, the Turkmenistan.ru correspondent reports from Ashgabat.

The ancient mausoleum of Nejmeddin Kubra will be the center of this architectural ensemble.

Nejmeddin Kubra was the ancient Turkmen theorist and practitioner of Sufism, author of many treatises, interpreter of Koran and poet. This unique monument of Oriental architecture of XIV century was included in the UNESCO's world heritage book.

[Picture: Shaykh's Kubra Shrine. Photo by Dr. Alan Godlas, 2008].

International Symposium on Mevlânâ Celâleddîn Rûmî

Republic of Turkey - Ministry of Culture and Tourism - Istanbul, Turkey
Tuesday, May 8, 2007

1. GÜN / FIRST DAY
8 MAY 2007

10.00 – 12.30

Açılış Konuşmaları / Opening Ceremony
(Atatürk Kültür Merkezi / Atatürk Cultural Center) İSTANBUL

Esin Çelebi Bayru (Hz. Mevlânâ’nın 22. Kuşaktan Torunu )
Atilla Koç (Kültür ve Turizm Bakanı)
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (Başbakan)

Açılış Tebliğleri / Keynote Speakers
Prof. Dr. Kenan Gürsoy
Prof. Dr. Seyyed Hossein Nasr

************************************
14.00 – 15.30
The Etap Marmara Hotel

SALON 1
Başkan / Chairman : Hilmi Yavuz

WILLIAM CHITTICK İhtiyaç ihtiyacı / The Need for Need
JAMES WINSTON MORRIS; Aşk Denizine Açılmak: Mevlânâ’nın Mesnevî’sinde “Kader Sırrı” / Navigating the Sea of Love: The “Secret of Destiny” in Rumi’s Masnavi.
İBRAHİM KALIN; Mevlânâ ve Çağdaş Felsefe / Rumi and Contemporary Philosophy.
ANDREY SMIRNOV; Şeytan ve Yokluk; Mevlânâ’nın Ahlak Düşüncesi İçin Bir Ontoloji Arayışı / Evil and non-existence: in search of an ontology for Rūmī’s ethical reasoning.
PABLO BENEITO; Yorumlama Yolculuğu: Tasavvufî şiir ve hermönetik ilmi arasında mütekabil sözcükler / The Journey of Interpretation: Lexical inter-reference in Sufi poetry and hermeneutics.

SALON 2
Başkan / Chairman : Prof. Kenan Gürsoy

LEYLİ ANVAR ép.CHENDEROFF; Mevlânâ’nın Hoşgörü Tavrı : Musa ve Çoban Hikayesini Okuyuş / Rumi and the notion of tolerance: a reading of the story of Moses and the Sheperd.
MOHAMMAD FAGHFOORY; Aşk Peygamberi: Mevlânâ’nın Mesnevi ve Divan-ı Kebir’inde Hz. İsa / Prophet of Love: Jesus in the Masnawi and the Divan-i Kabir of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi.
ADNAN ASLAN; Mevlana’da Çoğulculuk / Pluralism in Rumi.
NURİ ŞİMŞEKLER ; Mevlana’nın Öğretileriyle Zıtlarla Yaşamayı Öğrenmek / With Rumi’s thought to learn how to live together with opposites.
İSMAİL TAŞPINAR; Mesnevi’de Erken Dönem Hıristiyanlık ve Pavlus / Early Christianity and St.Paul in Rumi’s Masnawi.

SALON 3
Başkan / Chairman : Prof. Mahmud Erol Kiliç

MUSTAFA TAHRALI; Ahmed Avni Konuk’un Mesnevi-i Şerif Şerhinde İbn Arabi / Ibn Arabi in Ahmed Avni Konuk’s Commentary on Masnawi.
STEPHEN HIRTENSTEIN; Manevi Fakr ve İlahi Gına: Mevlana ve İbn Arabi’nin Öğretilerinin Mukayeseli Diyalektiği / Spiritual Poverty And Heavenly Riches: A comparative dialectic in the teachings of Rumi and Ibn ‘Arabi.
MUHAMMAD SUHEYL UMAR; Mevlânâ ve Vahdet-i Vücûd: Müşehedât ve Teemmülât / Rumi and Wahdat al-Wujud: Observations and Insights.
EKREM DEMİRLİ; Mevlana’yı İbnü’l-Arabî Gözüyle Yorumlamak: İbnü’l-Arabî ve Mevlana’da Bazı Ortak Kavramlar / Interpreting Rumi From Ibn Arabi’s Perspective: Common Concepts.
MÜFİT YÜKSEL; Mevlana-Sadreddin-i Konevi İlişkileri Bağlamında Konevi’nin Mevlana’ya Yazdığı Arapça Takriz / Qonevi’s Arabic Preface to Rumi’s Work.

SALON 4
Başkan / Chairman : Doç. Dr. Ahmet Arı

GHOLAMREZA AAVANI; Mesnevi’de Aşk / Love in Mathnavi.
İBRAHİM EMİROĞLU; Mevlânâ’da Aşkı İfade Etme İmkânı ve Aşk Betimlemeleri / Possibilities of Expression of Love in Rumi.
ASHK P. DAHLÉN; Mevlânâ’nın Aşk Anlayışı / Rumi’s Concept of Love.
ADNAN KARAİSMAİLOĞLU; Bilgin, Arif, Âşık ve Şair Mevlânâ / Rumi : As a scholar, areef, lover and poet.
DİLAVER GÜRER; Mesnevî’nin Son Hikâyesi Işığında Aşkın Sonsuzluğu Ya Da Anlatılmazlığı; Mesnevî Neden Sonlandırılmamıştır? / In the Light of Last Story of Masnawi The Eternity of Love or It’s Unspokenness.

Ara / Coffee Break

15.45 – 17.15

SALON 1
Başkan / Chairman : Prof. Bakri Alauddin

AHMET YAŞAR OCAK; Mevlânâ’yı doğru anlamak üzerine / On the true understanding of Rumi.
STEFFEN STELZER; Mevlânâ’yı Anlamak: Fihi Ma Fihi’den Dersler / Understanding Rumi: Lessons from Fihi Ma Fihi.
OSMAN NURİ KÜÇÜK; Günümüzde Mevlânâ’yı Anlama Sorunu / The Problem of Undestanding Rumi Today.
ALAN GODLAS; Mevlânâ’nın Dünya Görüşünün Sistematik ve Tutarlı Bir Anlayışına Doğru / Towards a Systematic and Coherent Understanding of Mevlana’s World View.
H. NUR ARTIRAN; Mevlânâ’yı Anlamak / Understanding Rumi.

SALON 2
Başkan / Chairman : Prof. Abdulkarim Soroush

ERKAN TÜRKMEN Mevlânâ’nın Mesnevi’sinin Evrenselliği / Universality of Rumi’s Masnavi
KABIR HELMINSKI Mânevî Algılama: Dinin Aslının Aslı / Spiritual Perception: The Root of the Root of Religion
AFFAN SELJUQ Mevlânâ ile beraber mânevî âlemi gezmek / Visiting the Spiritual World with Rumi
CAMILLE HELMINSKI Cennet Müşâhedesi / Witnessing the Garden
NAHID SHAHBAZI Simyacının Aşkı / Alchemist Love

SALON 3
Başkan / Chairman : Prof. Arif Naushahi

SALIM HOTLANI; Mevlânâ’nın Şiirlerinde Ney İmgesi / The Image of Flute in Rumi’s Poetry
NECİP FAZIL DURU; Mevlevi Şairlerde Ney Metaforu / The Metaphore of Nay in Mawlavi Poetry
IRAJ DADASHI; Mevlânâ’da Sanat ve Şiir Teorisi / Theory of Art and Poem in Mevlana
CANER DAĞLI; Mevlânâ’nın Şiirlerinde Sûret ve Mânâ / Form and Meaning in the Poetry of Rumi
SYED REZA FEIZ; Mevlânâ’nın Eserlerinde Öz ve Suret / The substance and the form in Rûmî’s works.

SALON 4
Baskan / Chairman : Prof. James Morris

AVID IQBAL; Mevlânâ’nın `Muaviye ve İblis” hikayesi ile İkbal’in “Şeytan’ın Parlementosu”nu mukayeseli bir inceleme / A Comparative Study of Rumi’s “Muawiya and Iblis” with Iqbal’s “Satan’s Parliament
CARL ERNST; Çoğa İşaret Eden Az: Mevlânâ’nın Mesnevî’sinin Dîbâcelerinin Yapısı ve Mânâsı / A little indicates much; “Structure and meaning in the prefaces of Rumi’s Masnavi”
MUHAMMAD ISA WALEY; Mesnevî’nin 6 Defterinin Dîbâceleri: Muhteva ve Mesaj / The Prefaces to the six Daftars of the Masnavi: their content and message
SEYED SAFAVI; Mevlânâ’nın Mesnevî’sinin 3. Defterinin Yapısı / “The Structure of Book Three of Rumi’s Mathnawi”
HURMETJAN ABUDUREHEMAN; Mesnevî-i Mânevî’den Mesnevî-i Harabâtî’ye / From The Mathnawi Ma'nawi to The Mathnawi Harabati

II. GUN / SECOND DAY
9 MAY 2007

09.00 – 10.30

SALON 1
Başkan / Chairman : Dr. Mohammad Faghfoory

PAUL BALLANFAT; Mesnevî ve Kur’an / Masnavi and Qur’an
OMID SAFI; “Bizler Nûr-ı Muhammedî Vârisleriyiz”: Mevlânâ’nın Hz. Muhammed ile İrtibatının Tabiatı üzerine / "We are the Inheritors of the Light of Muhammad": On the Relationship of Mawlana Rumi to the Prophet Muhammad (S).
MARIANA MALINOVA; Mevlânâ’nın Hz. Muhammed İmajındaki Dinamizm: Nübüvvetten Müşahede Makamına / The dynamics in the image of Muhammad in the writings of Jalal ad-Din Rumi: From the prophesy to the station of seeing
DENIS GRIL; Mevlânâ’nın Yedi Meclis’ine Göre Sünnet-i Nebevî Kavramı / The Concept of Sunna, according to Rûmî’s Majâlisi-sab‘a
DERYA ÖRS; Mevlana’nın Eserlerinde Bir “İnsan-ı Kamil” Örneği Olarak Hz. Muhammed / Prophet Muhammad: As a model of Perfect Man in the works of Rumi.

SALON 2
Başkan / Chairman : Prof. Baha Tanman

HAŞİM KARPUZ; Evliya Çelebi’nin Ziyaret Ettiği Mevlevihaneler / The Mawlawi Lodges that Awliya Chelebi Visited
OMAR TADMORI; Trablus Mevlevîhânesinin Tarihi / The History of the Mawlawiyya Takiyah of Tripoli/Lebanon
KHALED TADMORI; Trablus Mevlevîhânesinin Mimarisi ve Restorasyon Projesi / The Architecture of the Takiyah al-Mawlawiya in Tripoli and Its Restoration Project
SAWSAN AGHA KASSAB; Yabancı Tarihçi ve Seyyahlar Gözüyle Trablus Mevlevîhânesi / The Takiyah al-Mawlawiya of Tripoli in the Memory of Foreign Historian & Visitors

SALON 3
Başkan / Chairman : Prof. William Chittick

FLEUR NASSERY BONNIN; Mevlânâ’nın Şiir Denizinde İnciyi Aramak / In Search of the Pearls in the Ocean of Moulana’s Poetry
VASIM MAMMADALIYEV; Bir Sufi Şiir Ansiklopedisi Olarak Mesnevî / Masnavi is a poetic sufi encyclopedy
GIUSEPPE SCATTOLIN; Sufi Metinleri Okumak Üzerine: İbn Farız ile Mevlânâ’nın Mistik Tecrübeleri / Reading Sufi Texts: Between Ibn al-Fârid's and Rumi's Mystical Experience
PILAR GARRIDO; Her nesnenin kökeni: harfler, kelimeler, sözler / The root of all things: letters, words, speech

SALON 4
Baskan / Chairman: Prof. Zeren Tanındı

MANDANA BARKESHLI Mesnevî Yazmalarının Tesbit, Tasnif ve Dijitalleştirme Projesi / Project of Identification, Cataloging and Digitization of Manuscripts of Rumi's Masnavi
TEVFIK SUBHANI; Divan-ı Kebir`in Mühim Bir Nüshası / An Important Manuscript of Dîwan-ı Kebîr.
SEYYED MOHAMMAD ALI ABHARI İran Meclis Kütüphanesi’nde Mevlânâ’nın Eserlerinin Yazma Nüshaları / The manuscript copies of works of Maulana in Majles Library I.R.Iran
AKBAR IRANI GHOMI Abdüllatif-i Abbasî’nin Nüshasının Tanıtılması / Introducing of Noskheye Nasekhey By Abdol latife Abbasi
KAZIM HADZIMEYLIC Bosna Hersek’te Nadir Mevlevi El Yazmaları Some Rare Mawlavi Manuscrıpts in Bosnia.

10.45 – 12.15

SALON 1
Başkan / Chairman : Dr. Burhan Köroğlu

CLARA JANES NADAL Yıldızların Dönüşünden Kelimelerin Dönüşüne / From the Spinning of the Stars to the Spinning of the words
NASROLLAH POURJAVADY Mevlânâ’nın Neynâmesi / Rumi's nay-nama
MOHAMED SAID AL MAWLAWI Mevlânâ’nın Düşünceleri ve Dönmenin (sema) felsefesi üzerine şahsî yorumlarım / A personal interpretation of Rumi’s Teachings and the Philosophy of rotation
IRA FRIEDLANDER Mevlânâ: Gizli Hazine / Rumi, The Hidden Treasure (Bir filim)

SALON 2
Başkan / Chairman : Prof. Pablo Beneito

GHASEM KAKAEI Vahdet-i Vücûd’a Dair Bir Mesnevî Beytini Muhtelif Okuma Arayışları / Surveying Different Readings of a Verse of Mathnavi on "Unity of Being" (Wahdat al-Wujud
VICTOR PALLEJA DE BUSTINZA; Mevlânâ ve İbn Arabî: Bir Ortak Doktrin ? Eşyânın Tabiatı üzerine Husbaniyye ve Sofistler / Mevlana Rûmî and Ibn 'Arabî: A shared doctrine? The “husbaniyya” and the “sofists” on the nature of reality
MOHAMED MESBAHI Mevlânâ’nın Tevhid Fikri / The idea of unity in Jâlâleddin Rumi
MULYADHI KARTANEGA Mevlânâ’nın Evrim Teorisi (Molla Sadra, Darvin, Bergson ve Ian Barbour ile Mukayeseli Olarak) / Rumi's Theory of Evolution (in comparison with Mulla Sadra, Darwin, Bergson, and Ian Barbour
SAFER AKHTAR ______________

SALON 3
Baskan / Chairman : Prof. Ali Köse

ERIC GEOFFROY Éva de Vitray-Meyerovitch (Havva Hanım) (1909-1999), Mevlânâ’nın Bir Fransız Şârihi / Éva de Vitray-Meyerovitch (1909-1999), Rûmî’s French interpreter
GRAY HENRY-BLAKEMORE Haylazlıklar ve Ümid: Hayatın Lütufları İçerisinde Mevlânâ’nın Gösterdiği Hakikatler / Self-Naughting and Trust: Truths Rumi Conveys Gradually Demonstrated through Life's Graces
PETER HANS CUNZ Avrupa Bağlamında Mevlevî Tarikatı / The Mewlana Order in an European Context
AMINA TESLIMA AL JERRAJI & MARIA DEL CARMEN NOZAL México’da Mevlânâ Kokusu / Scent of Mevlana in México
NATALIA CHALISOVA Rusya’da Mevlâna: Tercüme Öyküsü / Rumi in Russia: the story of translation

SALON 4
Başkan / Chairman : Doç. Dr. Necdet Tosun

NUR SARALAEV Mevlana’nın Orta Asya’daki Tesirleri / The Influence of Rumi in Central Asia
THIERRY ZARCONE Orta Asya ve Dogu Türkistan’da Mesnevi-yi Şerif / Masnawi in Central Asia and Eastern Turkistan
IBROHIM HAKULOV Mevlânâ’nın hayatı ve eserlerinin Özbekistan’da tetkik edilmesi / The Study of Rumi’s Life and Works in Uzbekistan
JAMAL KAMALOV Mesnevî’nin Farsça’dan Özbekçe’ye Tercümesi Üzerine / On the translation “Masnavi-i Manawi” from Farsi into Uzbek.
NODIRKHON KHASANOV Mevlânâ’nın Mesnevi’si ve Babarahim Meşreb'in 'Mebde-i Nur' isimli eseri / Masnawi and Babarahim Mashrab’s “Mabda-i Nur”


14.00 – 15.30

SALON 1
Başkan / Chairman : Dr. Thierry Zarcone

SACHIKO MURATA Çince İslam’da Sûret ve Mânâ / Form and Meaning in Chinese-language Islam
MUSTAFA ZAMAN ABBASI Bengal Tasavvuf Geleneğinde Mevlânâ’nın Görüntüsü / Rumi Viewed in Bengali Sufi Tradition
NATALIA PRIGARINA Mevlânâ’nın Mesnevîsinin Dîbâcesinin Bir Devamı Olarak Gâlib’in “Surme-i Çeşm” Mesnevîsi / Mirza Ghalib’s Mathnavi “Surma-i chashm” as tatabbu‘ (“following”) to the Mevlana Rumi’s Introduction to Masnavi
SHAHZAD QAISER Bilginin Metafiziği (Mevlânâ, İkbal ve Hace Gulam Ferid) / Metaphysics of Knowledge (Jalaluddin Rumi, Iqbal and Khawaja Ghulam Farid)
SAFİ ARPAGUŞ Ahmed Avni Konuk’un Mesnevî-i Şerif Şerhi’nde Hint Şârihleri / Masnawi Commentators from the Subcontinent in Ahmad Avni’s Commentary

SALON 2
Başkan / Chairman : Doç. Dr. Halil İbrahim Sarıoğlu

MOHAMMAD KHAJAVI; Muasır İnsan Üzerine Mevlânâ’nın Çalışmaları / Rumi’s Work on Modern Man.
SEYED MOHSEN EMADI Bir Buluşmanın İmkanı ve İmkansızlığı (Şems ve Mevlânâ) / Possibilities and Impossibilities of a meeting (Shams and Molana)
KERIM ZAMANİ; Mevlânâ’nın İrfanı / Mysticism of Rumi
MOHAMMAD ALI MOVAHHED Makâlât-ı Şems-i Tebrîzî’de bulunan bir Mektub Üzerine Yeni Bir Teklif / A New Suggestion Concerning a Letter Contained in Maqalat-i Shams-i Tabrizi.
JANIS ESOTS Şems ve Mevlânâ: İki Çeşit Fenâ Bulma / Shams and Mawlana: Two kinds of Annihilation

SALON 3
Baskan / Chairman : Prof. Nasrollah Porjavady

RUSMIR MAHMUTCEHAYIC Hâlidî Hikmette Aşk / Love in Perennial Philosophy
JAWID MOJADDEDI Tasavvuf Geleneğinde Mevlânâ’nın Yeri / Mawlana’s Place in the Sufi Tradition
ABU SYED GOLAM DASTGIR Dünya Barışı İçin Mevlânâ’nın İlahî Aşkı / Mowlana Rumi’s Divine Love for World Peace
KONUL BUNYADZADA Mevlânâ’nın Işığında Muasır İnsan / Modern Man in the Light of Mawlana
MUSTAFA AŞKAR Hz. Mevlânâ’da İnsan Anlayışı ve İnsanın Kozmik Âlemdeki Yeri / Rumi’s Understanding of Man and His Place in Cosmos

SALON 4
Başkan / Chairman : Doç. Dr. İbrahim Kalın

ABDULKARIM SOROUSH Mevlânâ: Adalet ve Cömertlik / Rumi; Justice or Generosity
SHARAM PAZOUKI Kılıçsız Öldürme: Mesnevi’de Manevi Cihad / Killing without sword; the concept of spiritual Jihad in the Mathnawi
JOSEPH LUMBARD Mevlânâ’ya Göre Cihad / Jihad According to Rumi
GERHARD BOWERING Klasik Tasavvufî Metinlerde Ahd-i Misak Günü / The Day of Covenant in Classical Sufi Writings
SYED FARID ALATAS Mevlânâ ve Aşırılığa Karşı Muasır Mücadele / Rumi and the Contemporary Struggle Against Extremism

15.45 – 17.15

SALON 1
Başkan / Chairman : Dr. Barihuda Tanrikorur

AMIR HOSSEIN ZEKRGOO; Semâ’ ve Mandala: Ezoterik Bir Yaklaşım / Sufi Sama and the concept of Mandala: An Esoteric Approach
WALTER FELDMAN; Mevlevî âyininde mistisizm, hafıza ve tarih / Mysticism, Memory and History in the Mevlevi Ayin
MUSTAFA ÇIPAN; Mevlevîliğin “Çile”li Şehrâhında Vücut Bulan “Üç Selîm”in Saltanat, Edebiyat ve Mûsıkîmizdeki Tezâhürleri (III. Selim-Şeyh Gâlib-Dede Efendi) / Three Selim in Mawlavi Way and Their Impacts on Government, Literature and Musics (III. Selim, Sheikh Ghalib and Dede Effendi)
NURİ ÖZCAN; Mevlevi Ayinlerinde Beste ve Güfte Özellikleri / The Charecteritics of Compositions and Texts of Mawlavi Ceremonies

SALON 2
Başkan / Chairman : Doç. Dr. Reşat Öngören

ARIF NAUSHAHI Sevâkıb-ı Menâkıb: Mevlânâ Üzerine Nâdir Bir Kaynak / Savakeb Almanaqeb: A Rare Source About Mevlana
OMAR BENAISSA Câmî’nin Nefehâtü’l-üns’ünün Mevlânâ Kısmı / The entry Rumi in the Nafahât al-Uns of Jâmî”
SAYFIDDIN RAFIDDINOV Mevlânâ ve Alişîr Nevâî / Mevlana Rumi and Alisher Navoi
ANNABEL KEELER Mevlânâ ve Beyazıd-ı Bestâmî: Mesnevî’de Menkıbevî Anlar / Rumi and Bayazid: hagiographical moments in the Masnavi-yi ma’navi
H. KAMİL YILMAZ Rûhû’l-Beyân’da Mesnevî / Masnawi in Bursevi’s Ruh al-Bayan

SALON 3
Başkan / Chairman : Doç. Dr. Süleyman Derin

HOTAM ASOEV Mevlânâ’nın Aşk Öğretisi ve Seyyid Ali Hemedânî Üzerine Tesiri / Mawlawi's Teaching on Love and Its Influence on Seyyed Ali Hamadani
ALICE HUNSBERGER Mevlânâ’da ve Nasır-ı Hüsrev’de Akıl Kavramı / The Concept of Reason (`Aql) in Rumi and Nasir Khusraw
ALADDIN BAKRI Mevlânâ ve Abdülganî Nablûsî / Mevlana in the Abdal Gani Nabulsi
CİHAN OKUYUCU Aşık Paşanın Garipnamesinde Mesnevi Tesirleri / Masnawi’s Impact on Ashik Pasha’s Garibnama.
RASHID JUMAEV Mevlânâ ve Peyvendi Rızâî / Mawlana Rumi and Payvandi Rizai

SALON 4
Başkan / Chairman : Prof. Ahmet Yaşar Ocak

AHMET ARI Mevleviliğin Kütahya’dan İstanbul’a Yolculuğu / The Journey of Mawlaviyya from Kutahya to Istanbul
EKREM IŞIN İstanbul’da Mevlevilik / Mawlaviyya in Istanbul
MEHMET AKKUŞ & NESİMİ YAZICI Mevlânâ Muhibbi Sultan V. Mehmed Reşad’ın Konya’ya Gönderdiği Mevlevî Heyetinin Günlüğü ( 4-12 Haziran 1912) / The Diary of Mawlavi Delagation sent by a Rumi Lover Sultan (V. Rashad) to Konya
SEZAİ KÜÇÜK Ortak Kader: Osmanlının Son Yılları Ve Mevlevilik / A Common Destiny: Last Days of Ottoman Empire and Mawlavi Order
MEHMET DEMİRCİ; Mevlânâ’nın 20. yüzyıl Türk fikir ve sanat adamlarına etkisi: Yahya Kemal Örneği / Rumi’s Impact on Contemporary Turkish Thinkers and Artists: The case of Yahya Kemal

Ara / Coffee Break

17.30 – 19.00

SALON 1
Başkan / Chairman : Prof. Cihan Okuyucu

İSMAİL YAKIT Mevlana’da Aşk Ahlakı / Rumi’s Ethic of Love
ROBERT FRAGER Mevlânâ: 21. Yüzyılın Mânevîyât Rehberi / Mevlana: Spiritual Guide for the 21st Century
SÜLEYMAN DERİN Mevlana’nin Mesnevi’sinde Psikolojik Yaklaşımlar / Psychological Aproaches in Rumi’s Masnawi
MICHAELA OZELSEL Mevlânâ’nın Felsefesinin Psikolojik Yönleri / Psychological Aspects of Hz. Mevlana’s Philosophy
NEVAD KAHTERAN Dönüşen İslam Çağında Mevlânâ’nın Aşk Felsefesi / Rumi's philosophy of Love in the era of U-turned Islam

SALON 2
Başkan / Chairman : Prof. Adnan Karaismailoğlu

HÜSEYİN HATEMİ Mevlânâ Düşüncesinin Evrenselliği ve İslâmîliği / Universality and Islamity of Rumi’s Thought
SYED REZAUL KARIM Mevlânâ’nın Küllî Akıl Kavramı / Rumi’s Concept of Universal Intelligence
YUSIF RUSTAMOV Mevlânâ’nın Düşünce Dünyası / The World of Thinking of Rumi
ADEM ESEN Mevlana’da İktisada Dair Görüşler / Rumi’s Thought on Economy
MEHMET DALKILIÇ Teolojik Sorunların Ele Alınmasında İyi Niyetlilik İlkesi -Mevlana’nın Bazı Klasik Kelam Sorunlarına Yaklaşımı- / The Principal of Good Intention in Aproaching to Theological Matters: Rumi’s approach to Classical Kelam Problems

SALON 3
Başkan / Chairman : Prof. Hasan Kamil Yılmaz

REŞAT ÖNGÖREN Mevlânâ’nın Osmanlı’ya Etkileri / Rumi’s Impact on Ottomans
NECDET TOSUN Mevlana ve Mevleviliğin Nakşbendi Kültüründeki İzleri / Rumi’s and His Way’s İmpact on on Naqshbendi Culture
MUSTAFA TATÇI Şabani Kaynaklarında Mevlana ve Mevleviler / Rumi and Mawlavis in Khalwati-Shabani Sources
MAHMUD EROL KILIÇ Ussakiler ve Mevlana / Rumi and Mawlavis in Khalwati-Ushshaqi Sources
NEZİH UZEL Son Mevleviler / Last Mawlavis

SALON 4
Başkan / Chairman : Dr. Omar Benissa

ERDOĞAN EROL Mevlevilikte Zikr Tesbihi / Rosary of Zekr in Mawlavi Order
BEKİR ŞAHİN Mevlevilikte Evrad Ve Dua / Awrad and Prayers in Mawlavi Order
ULDIS BERZINS Bizim Meclisimizde Birleşmek? / United ‘at our summits’?
ARIN ERMATOV Mevlana’nın Eserlerinde İnsan Düşüncesi / The Concept of Man in the Works of Rumi.
NASIR TAMARA; _____________


KONYA
MEVLÂNÂ KÜLTÜR MERKEZİ
11 MAY 2007

09.00 – 09.30

Protokol Konuşmaları

09.30 – 11.00

Başkan / Chairman: Prof. Mustafa Tahralı

YAKUP ŞAFAK Mesnevi tercüme ve şerhlerinin Türk kültüründeki yeri / The Place of Masnawi and Its Commentaries in Turkish Culture
SEMİH CEYHAN; Mesnevi’de Mana Düzeyleri: İsmail Rüsuhi Ankaravi’nin Mesnevi Tahkiki / The Degrees of Meaning in Masnawi: Anqaravi’s Commentary
BİLAL KEMİKLİ Mesnevi ve Türk İrfanı: Mesnevihanlık Geleneği Üzerine Bazı Değerlendirmeler / Masnawi and Turkish Gnosis: Some Thoughts on the tradition of Masnawi-Readers (Masnawihanlık).
AHMET GÜNER SAYAR Mesnevi Şarihi: Ahmet Avni Konuk” / Ahmad Avni Konuk: A Masnawi Commentator
CEMAL KURNAZ Ahmet Talat Onay’ın Eski Türk Edebiyatında Mazmunlar ve İzahı İsimli Ansiklopedik Eserinde Mevleviler ve Mevlevilik Kültürü / Mawlavis in Ahmad Talat Onay’s book called Enclopadia of The Names and Thoughts in Classical Turkish Literature

Ara / Coffee Break

11.15 – 12.45

Başkan / Chairman: Dr. Khaled Tadmori

NACİ BAKIRCI Konya Mevlevi Dergahı / Rumi’s Dergâh in Konya
GIUSEPPE FANFONI Semahane Mimari Tipolojisinin Tarihsel Evrimi / Historical evolution of the Sama'khana architectural typology
BARİHÜDA TANRIKORUR Mevlevi Sema’ının Bugün İhya Edilmesinde Unutulan Bir Temel Unsur: Semâhâne / The Major Missing Element in the Present Day Revival of the Mevlevî Semâ Ceremony: The Semâhane, Its Function and Architecture
İSMAİL KARA Hanya Mevlevihanesi / Mawlavikhana of Iraklio / Create
GÖKALP KAMİL Kıbrıs’ta Mevlevilik / Mawlaviyya Order in Cyprus

Öğle Yemeği / Lunch

14.00 – 15.30

Başkan / Chairman : Prof. Mehmet Demirci

MUSTAFA KOÇ Osmanlı’nın Son Döneminde Sultan Veled Üzerine Yapılan Bir Şerh: Halid Efendi’nin Işknâmesi / Khalid Affendi’s Ishqnama: A Late Ottoman Commentary on Sultan Valad.
HÜLYA KÜÇÜK Sultan Veled’in, Teozofik Tasavvuf Anlayışı ile Karışık Popülizmi / Sultān Walad’s Populism Mixed With a Theosophical Understanding of Sufism
İSMAİL GÜLEÇ Mesnevî’den bazı beyitlere tahmis yoluyla yapılan şerhler Commentaries on Some Masnawi’s Verses As Fifth Lines
HALİL İBRAHİM SARIOĞLU Mevlânâ’nın Rubâîlerinde Ölüm Teması / The Theme of Death in Rumi’s Quatrains

Ara / Coffee Break

15.45 – 17.15

Başkan / Chairman : Prof. Paul Ballanfat

HİCABİ KIRLANGIÇ; Divan-ı Kebir’de İmge ve Sembol / Symbol in Divan-ı Kabir
TURAN KOÇ ; Mevlana’nın Şiirinde Güzellik Tecrübesinin İfadesi / Expresions of The Experience of Beauty in Rumi’s Poetry
ERDAL BAYKAN Mevlana’da Aklın Sınırı ya da Cebrail ve Sidretül-Münteha / The Limits of Reason or Gabrael and Sidra al-Muntaha
EMİNE YENİTERZİ Mevlâna’nın İnsan, Melek ve Şeytan Üçgenine Dair Görüşleri / Rumi’s Thoughts on Man, Angel and Satan

12 MAYIS 2007 / 12 MAY 2007

10.00 – 11.30

Başkan / Chairman : Prof. Shams Freidlander

GÖNÜL AYAN Fihi MaFih’deki İktibasların Bir Değerlendirilmesi / An Evaluation of Some Quatations in Fihi Ma Fihi
MUSTAFA ÇİÇEKLER; Mevlana’nın Gazellerinde Bazı Mazmunlar / Some Implications in Rumi’s Lyrics
AYDIN ABBASOV; Mefkureciliğimizde Mevlânâ / Rumi in our Idealizm
METIN İZETİ; Hazreti Mevlana’nın Mesnevî‘sinde Hikmetin Kabul Edicisi olarak Kalb / The Heart: As a Receiver of Wisdom in Rumi’s Masnawi

Ara / Coffee Break

11.45 – 12.30

KAPANIŞ OTURUMU / FINAL SESSION

Başkan / Chairman : Mahmud Erol Kiliç

Seyyed Hossein Nasr
Ahmet Yasar Ocak
William Chittick
James Morris
Ekrem Işın
Nezih Uzel

Sufism, Leprosy, and Islamophobia

by Dr. Alan Godlas

I would argue that in the West today Muslims are treated by a majority or near majority of non-Muslims as though they were lepers; and Islam is the new leprosy.

Fortunately, for those living in the West who wish to imbibe the sweetness of Sufism, the genius of pioneers such as Hazrat Inayat Khan, Sufi Sam Lewis, Idris Shah, and Bulent Rauf (to name a few) continues to enable thirsty seekers to come to the Sufi tavern and, through the divine Mercy, get something intoxicating to drink without having to run the risk of getting infected with Islamic leprosy.

Nevertheless, sitting on the non-Islamic seats or Islamic leprosophobic stools at the bar will in most cases deprive one of (or at least make it very difficult to gain access to) the traditionally Qur'anic and Muhammadan hadith-infused Sufi hard liquors and spirits (like we can often find in Rumi's original Persian rather then translations diluted to suit the American palate, for example).

Among the factors that have contributed to the spread of the mental and emotional disease that has resulted in Islam becoming the new leprosy are the following: one factor is that a small minority of Muslims take pride in presenting Islam to the world as something that is conflict with the West and even disgusting to Westerners --these are both militant extremists and those simply trying to take pride in an Islamic identity that is resentful of and in opposition to the Western colonial and neo-colonial occupation of Muslim countries; a second factor is the propaganda of the leaders of the anti-Islamic polemic, which polemic is now reaching epidemic proportions.

Hence, in order to open up more seats in the Sufi tavern for those who are reluctant to contract what they fear is Islamic leprosy, I would like to share what so far is the clearest short expose of the anti-Islamic or Islamophobic polemic, the article "Jihad Against Islam," by Robert Steinback, published by the Southern Poverty Law Center (which is one of the organizations leading the fight against all forms of bigotry):
http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-report/browse-all-issues/2011/summer/jihad-against-islam
(or of it breaks use http://tinyurl.com/3qsv2v8 ).

Commemoration of Eid Al Mawlid An-Nabawi at Zaouia Kadiria Boudchichia

"Ceremony at Zaouia Kadiria Boudchichia in commemoration of Eid Al Mawlid An-Nabawi"

February 28, 2010

"Cérémonie religieuse à la Zaouia Kadiria Boudchichia" (original title) (article translated from the French original published in eMarrakech.info)

Madagh (Berkane province), Morocco - In commemoration of Eid Al Mawlid anNabaoui [Festival of the Birthday of the Prophet], the Zaouia Kadiria Boudchichia [The Qaderi Boudchichi Sufi Order] held Saturday evening a large religious ceremony at the headquarters of the Zaouia in Madagh (about 15 km from the town of Berkane).

During the religious vigil --attended by tens of thousands of people, visitors and followers of the Zaouia [Sufi Order] from different regions of the Kingdom, and several other countries-- verses of the Holy Quran and praise to our Sayyid, the prophet Mohammed, were recited.

On this occasion, assistance of God, the Almighty, was implored to grant health, long life and glory to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Commander of the Faithful and the Sovereign and to HRH Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan, HRH Princess Lalla Khadija, HRH Prince Moulay Rachid, and all members of the illustrious royal family.

Supplications were also said for the repose of the soul of the late Supreme Royal Highnesses Mohammed V and King Hassan II.

The Zaouia Kadiria Boudchichia [Sufi order] also sponsored a symposium --organized on this occasion of Eid al-Mawlid Annabaoui -- the 4th World Meeting of Sufism on "Sufism and Society: Reality and Perspectives" attended by several researchers and Moroccan and foreign experts.

Participants in the symposium [including the editor in chief of Sufi News, Dr. Godlas] discussed for three days (25-27 February) the topics of "the societal dimension of Sufism", from "Sufism and crisis management" of "Sufism and socio-political dynamics" of "Sufism between the 'ethics of dialogue and culture of citizenship, "the" Sufism and the culture of diversity and difference "and" Sufism and Culture.

Moreover, social actions have been organized for the benefit of persons deprived Madagh and surrounding communities.

Thus, some 150 children have benefited from a circumcision operation, and more than 700 people have benefited Eye Clinic, of which 440 have received complimentary glasses.

True Sense of His Influence

Culture Desk, "Leading orientalists to discuss cultural heritage of Nejmeddin Kubra" - Turkmenistan.Ru - Asghabat, Turkmenistan
Thursday, September 4, 2008

Ashgabat: The international scientific conference entitled "Nejmeddin Kubra and spiritual-cultural world of the Orient" started in the northern region of Turkmenistan.

The conference [September 3-6] has been organized by the Miras Turkmen National Cultural Heritage Centre and the Dashoguz province administration.

The conference is divided into five sections. The conference participants will discuss issues related to academic researches of the cultural heritage of Nejmeddin Kubra, Turkmen theorist and practitioner of Sufism, author of numerous treatises, interpreter of the Koran and prominent poet.

The conference will also look into issues related to preservation of unique monuments that were found in the territory of Kunyaurgench State Historical-Cultural Reserve and included in UNESCO's list of world heritage.

The conference gathered historian-orientalists and literary critics, linguists and art critics, theologians and cultural experts, teachers of higher educational establishments as well as cultural workers and art figures from Turkmenistan and some twenty other countries.

Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov has sent a welcome message to the conference participants. The text of the Turkmen president's message was published in central mass media outlets today.

In his message the head of state expressed hope that the scientific forum would play an important role "in studying the life and works of Najmeddin Kubra, finding a proper place for his scientific-literary heritage in development of the world culture, as well as getting true sense of his influence on the spiritual life of the entire Orient."

[Picture: Tomb of Shaykh Najm al-Dīn Kubra at Kunya Urgench. Photo by Dr. Alan Godlas].

Alternative Healing: The Sufi Way

Sufi News Report - Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Alternative Healing: The Sufi Way
By Es-Seyyid Es-Shaykh Taner Ansari Tarsusi er Rifai el Qadiri
Edited by Shaykh Kevin Germain

Remedies and health tips for the practicing spiritual healer from the Holy Quran for cancer, epilepsy, fevers, diabetes, recovery from drug addiction, demonic possession and other ailments

In his *Alternative Healing: The Sufi Way* Shaykh Taner Ansari has provided Muslims, Sufis, and anyone interested in spiritual healing with a book that will be uplifting for both spirits and bodies.

Readers will love the focus of the book, which is a veritable pharmacopoeia of Quranic verses related to specific ailments affecting one's spiritual and physical being.

In addition Shaykh Taner has included valuable chapters containing practical guidance for purification, diagnosis, the use of the Divine Names in healing, treatment of Jinn possession, and the use of spiritual geometric designs (taweez) that have traditionally been used for healing.

Finally, recipes for soups and teas that Shaykh Taner adds in an appendix complete this book that is certainly a generous cup overflowing with God's Mercy.

Review by Dr. Alan Godlas - from the back cover

Es-Seyyid Es-Shaykh Taner Ansari
*Alternative Healing
The Sufi Way*
Ansari Publications
Nassau, New York

ISBN: 978-0-9703185-2-7

You can buy at this link: http://astore.amazon.com/wilderwri-20

You can visit the Qadiri-Rifai tariqa at this link www.qadiri-rifai.com (or click the title above).

Latif Bolat: a new perspective on Islam and Sufism

By Sarah King - Carleton College News - Northfield, MN, U.S.A.

Monday, April 9, 2007

Distinguished Turkish singer, composer, and scholar Latif Bolat will present a talk entitled “Islam and Its Mystical Path: Sufism” at 5 p.m. Friday, April 13 in Carleton’s Gould Library Athenaeum.

Bolat will also perform the following day, Saturday, April 14, in the College’s Severance Great Hall at 7 p.m. Both events are free and open to the public.

Bolat is one of the most renowned Turkish musicians in North America. He performs around the world and his vast repertoire includes classical and folk music as well as his specialty, the ancient Turkish mystic-devotional music of Sufism.

Sufism is a mystic tradition developed by Muslims and practiced worldwide.

“The essence of Sufi practice is quite simple,” says Dr. Alan Godlas of the University of Georgia. “The Sufi surrenders to God, in love, over and over. This involves embracing with love at each moment the content of one's consciousness—one's perceptions, thoughts, and feelings, as well as one's sense of self—as gifts of God or, more precisely, as manifestations of God.”

Bolat’s lecture will bring to light a new perspective on Islam and Sufism, focusing on the Sufi devotional practices of music, dance, and rituals.

He will address the sociopolitical and cultural qualities of Turkish music in the context of contemporary Turkish politics and culture.

In performance, Bolat continues the theme, encouraging the audience to consider how major sociopolitical forces influence culture and the art it produces. The intimate atmosphere of Bolat’s musical performance will be enhanced by a backdrop of photographic slides depicting images of the landscape, cities, artwork, architecture, and people of Turkey.

A native of the Mediterranean town of Mersin, Turkey, Bolat received his degree in folklore and music from Gazi University in Ankara, Turkey. In addition to teaching traditional music throughout the country, he later managed the Anakara Halk Tiyatrosu, a Turkish musical theater company.

For more information about Bolat’s lecture and performance, contact Carleton’s office of intercultural life at (507) 646-4495.

You Answer Violence with Love

Norwalk Plus Magazine - Norwalk, CT; U.S.A.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007

A 13th century Persian poet, whose simple yet deep words continue to have relevance in the modern world, will be honored at Sacred Heart University on November 13th through literature, music and Sufi-dance.

The event, An Evening with Rumi: Poet of Peace, will pay tribute to the poet, jurist and theologian. The event is open to the public, free of charge.

The event will feature the University Choir singing Rumi poems; Columbia University Professor Hossein Kamali lecturing on Rumi and Islam; Alan Godlas, Associate Professor in the Department of Religion at the University of Georgia, lecturing on Rumi and Sufism; poetry readings in Persian and English, and musical performances by Hossein Behroozinia and Pejman Hadadi – members of Dastan Ensemble, a world-renowned group of classical Persian musicians.

Sufi dances will be presented by Khadija Julia Goforth and her group of Whirling Dervishes.

Mowlana Jalal al-Din Mohammad Balkhi Rumi was born in 1207 in the ancient city of Balkh, in present day Afghanistan and in 1273 passed away in the city of Ghoonieh, in present day Turkey. Rumi after Shakespeare, is considered the most popular poet in the world. Sales of his poetry books are second only to the Christian Bible.

“He is the universal voice,” said event director, Cima Sedigh, associate professor of Education.

After Rumi’s death, his followers founded a religious order of Sufis referred to as the Whirling Dervishes. While entertaining, their form of dance is not intended for performance but rather for spiritual enlightenment, a physical means to try to attain religious ecstasy. They are true practitioners of Sufism, a mystical Islamic tradition, Sedigh said.

Sedigh said she decided to organize the tribute to Rumi because 2007 marks the 800th anniversary of his birth, but more importantly because she wants his voice to be heard over the din of violence throughout the world.

“I am overwhelmed by the amount of violence that I hear and that I see on the news. From the perspective of an educator, it is vital to educate students on peaceful options that we have to invest in and explore. We have to become skillful at solving conflicts through non-violent techniques and at how to promote peace,” said Sedigh, who is of Persian descent.

“There’s a sense that violence is a justifiable response even to violence when, in fact, the teaching in my tradition is that you answer violence with love; you love your enemies, you turn the other cheek,” said June-Ann Greeley, head of SHU’s Middle Eastern Studies program.

“Rumi is just this amazing voice of love and unity and tolerance and going beyond our differences. He has this wonderful line in one of his poems that says basically, ‘I’m not a Jew, I’m not a Muslim, I’m not a Christian, I’m not a this, I’m not a that, I am every man, I am a child of God.’ It’s just this amazing language that’s very simple and yet very deep,” Greeley said.

Robin McAllister, associate professor of English said, “Rumi's poetry is about the search for love in all its dimensions, human and divine. It is both contemplative and passionate, something to think about, something to act out in our hearts.”

Sedigh said the Rumi event will serve as an introduction to an “Education for Peace” unit and a course she will teach at SHU on peace education.

[Visit the Sacred Heart University at www.sacredheart.edu].

Love Arrived

TTCulture Desk, "Iran ready to help restore Abil-Kheir tomb" - Tehran Times - Tehran, Iran
Sunday, August 31, 2008

Iran is prepared to help with the renovation of the tomb of Shaikh Abu-Saeed Abil-Kheir in Meyhaneh, Turkmenistan, the Iranian ambassador to Ashgabat told MNA.

Ambassador Mohammadreza Forqani said that after reaching an agreement with Turkmenistan, Iran will begin the renovation.

Abil-Kheir’s tomb is located five kilometers away from the Turkmenistan city of Mayhaneh, which was a part of Iran at that time, he added.

Seljuq kings built the tomb for the first time in 1049. Although American archeologists renovated the structure in 2005, parts of the tomb remain damaged. The earthen construction, decorated by embossed poems in the Persian language, is in danger and may collapse in the near future.

At present, there is no residence or facility for visitors near the tomb.

Abu-Saeed Abil-Kheir (967-1049) was a famous Persian Sufi who contributed extensively to the development of the Sufi tradition. His formal education, which he continued until age 23 when he left them for Sufism, included Islamic disciplines and Arabic literature. During his lifetime, his fame spread throughout the Islamic world, even as far away as Spain.

He was the first Sufi writer to widely use ordinary love poems as a way to express and illuminate mysticism, and as a result, he played a major role in the foundation of Persian Sufi poetry.

"Love arrived and became like blood in my skin and veins

such that it emptied and filled me with the Beloved Friend

Every part of my being the Beloved completely consumed

Of me nothing is left but a name, the rest is entirely Him"

"'ishq aamad-o shod cho chuunam andar rag-o puust

taa kard maraa tohii-yo por kard ze duust

azjaa-ye vojuud-e man hama [raa?] duust gereft

naamii-st ze man bar man-o baaqii hama uust"

[Translation and transliteration by Dr. Alan Godlas;
SWB # 19007, # 38753; http://tinyurl.com/5haetj].

Sufi support for legislation opposing an American attack on Iran

"Sufi support for legislation opposing an American attack on Iran" by Dr. Alan Godlas (based on and including an announcement issued via email by authors at www.justforeignpolicy.org ). (Now including active links!)

Anyone interested in Sufism should read and act on the advice below (concerning the importance of opposing the Bush administrations' efforts to attack Iran) in general because Sufis --and Muslims as a whole, since the vast majority of Sufis are Muslims-- oppose actions that will result in the deaths of innocent people. More specific reasons are as follows:

1) There are a lot of Sufis and a majority of innocent (and U.S. loving) people in Iran who would die if the U.S. attacked Iran,

2) probably at least some of my students (who have studied Sufism) and a lot of innocent Americans who are going to go into (or are currently in) the American armed forces might die in such a war in Iran;

3) a lot of Sufis, sympathizers to Sufism, and innocent people in Israel might die in a retaliatory Iranian attack on Israel, which would be very likely if any Iranian military capabilities survived the initial American onslaught; which survival is a distinct possibility, given the difficulty in completely eliminating all Iranians' military capabilities--as seen by the difficulty the U.S. has experienced in eliminating all opposition in Iraq;

4) given that a very recent study showed that Iran's so-called nuclear threat to us and Israel is minimal in contrast to the damage that we would create if we attack Iran (See "U.S. Finds Iran Halted Its Nuclear Arms Effort in 2003" --N.Y. Times, Dec. 4, 2007 tinyurl.com/2tlcnw.

So, the message below is an attempt to mobilize support against the Bush administration's desire to attack Iran. It does not appear to exist on the web, on news sites, or in a blog, hence I am posting it here rather than simply posting a url (which I could not find).

-------- Here is the message:

In these final months of the Bush presidency, let's keep up the pressure against war with Iran.

Take action.

Dear Supporter of a Just Foreign Policy,

The Bush administration has forced out a top admiral who had widely been seen as an opponent of attacking Iran. (note 1) Now is the time to work harder against another war.

Last week, an article in Esquire called Admiral William Fallon the Bush administration's primary obstacle to an attack on Iran and an advocate of serious diplomacy.(note 2) His departure raises serious questions about the administration's intentions.

We just spent a month on the road with author Stephen Kinzer talking and meeting about Iran, and we have several ideas of what can be done to step up efforts against war. (note 3) Thanks to the tour, a few Senators and Representatives in Washington see the same urgency we do. Can you help us build momentum for legislation (note 4) introduced last year that would prevent the President from attacking Iran without Congressional authorization?

www.justforeignpolicy.org/involved/nowaroniran.html

We met personally with Senator John Kerry last week, and he reaffirmed his active support for this legislation. Senator Hillary Clinton, in a press release following Admiral Fallon's resignation,(note 5) urged support for it.

We will continue working closely with key Members of Congress to get this bill passed. To make this work, it is crucial that your Members hear from you, their constituent.

www.justforeignpolicy.org/involved/nowaroniran.html
Thanks for all you do for a just foreign policy,
Patrick McElwee, Robert Naiman, Chelsea Mozen and Sebastian Anti
Just Foreign Policy
www.justforeignpolicy.org

References:
1. "Fallon falls: Iran should worry," Gareth Porter, Asia Times, March 13, 2008

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/JC13Ak01.html
2. "The Man Between War and Peace," Thomas P.M. Barnett, Esquire, March 5, 2008
http://www.esquire.com/features/fox-fallon
3. The Folly of Attacking Iran Tour was a big success, attracting large audiences and press attention across the country. Thanks to all of you for your support. If you were unable to make it to an event, you can see some of what Stephen Kinzer had to say in his opinion piece that appeared in the Baltimore Sun yesterday:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.iran12mar12,0,5070600.story

4. The bill, introduced by Senator Jim Webb (D-VA), carries the bill number S. 759 and is titled, "To prohibit the use of funds for military operations in Iran." The full text is here:

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:s.759:

A companion bill, H.R. 3119, has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Mark Udall. The full text of that bill is here:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:h.r.3119:

5. In a statement released Tuesday, March 11, 2008, Senator Clinton said:
Admiral Fallon was a sensible voice within the Pentagon on the need to have a multi-pronged strategy towards Iran that included support for engaging Iran. Admiral Fallon was a voice of reason in an administration which has used inflammatory rhetoric against Iran. I am asking that the Senate Armed Services Committee hold hearings into the circumstances surrounding his departure. I will also urge my colleagues to join me in supporting Senator Webb's legislation requiring the Administration to come to Congress before taking military action against Iran.

Also the author of the above message notes the following for anyone who writes a letter to the administration:

I would emphasize to the Bush administration, as I have before, that it has no authority to take this nation to war against Iran, and I again urge the Bush administration to pursue diplomacy, including direct talks with Tehran, at its earliest opportunity.

Full text of Senator Clinton's statement is available at:http://clinton.senate.gov/news/statements/details.cfm?id=294635&&

Writing While Angry

By Asra Q. Nomani, *Writing While Angry* - The Huffington Post - USA
Monday, July 12, 2010

Last summer, Washington Post political columnist Dana Milbank spoke to a Georgetown University class I teach, the "Reported Opinion Piece," and gave our next generation of writers a pearl of wisdom about how he writes his biting columns with edge but not bitterness: "We've all heard about how you're not supposed to drive while angry.

You also shouldn't write while angry."It's a lesson Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert would have benefited from hearing before he penned his online screed to basketball star LeBron James, charging him with a "shameful display of selfishness and betrayal" for his decision to leave the Cleveland Cavalier to play with the Miami Heat.

In a letter to fans, posted on the Cavaliers' website, the Cleveland owner declared James would carry a "so-called 'curse'" to Miami, writing: "The self-declared former "King" will be taking the "curse" with him down south. And until he does 'right' by Cleveland and Ohio, James (and the town where he plays) will unfortunately own this dreaded spell and bad karma."

Ominously, he writes: "Just watch."

I haven't followed the NBA. I don't know LeBron James career. But, as a writer challenging interpretations of Islam that punish, kill, assault and discriminate in the name of religion, I do know a little something about meditating through anger when writing. Even if we don't write for public consumption, most of us have been tempted to write emails in anger at 2 a.m. There are at least three emails in my life that I can distinctly remember writing when angry, and I know I regret everyone of them.

It's easy to instantaneously express anger in electronic rants in this age of "digital maximalism," as former Washington Post reporter William Powers calls our day of information overload in his excellent new book, Hamlet's BlackBerry: A Practical Philosophy for Building a Good Life in the Digital Age.

But, if we -- like Gilbert -- really care about philosophies such as "karma," we'd be better served to do something wiser: sleep on it, meditate on it and express ourselves from a place of intellect and heart. In India, the country of my birth, karma is a word in Sanskrit that speaks to "samsara," or the concept of how our lives are a cycle of cause and effect. We don't serve ourselves or others well when we dole out bitterness and anger. It just feeds into a cycle of wrath. We are better served as a civilized society if we live with some pause. And I think even basketball coaches can aspire to that kind of reflection.

Some years ago, when the men at my mosque in Morgantown, W.V., banished the other women and me to an isolated balcony, I stepped out of the balcony, into the parking lot, seething. There, I called Alan Godlas, a professor of Islam and religion at University of Georgia in Athens, and he gave me words of wisdom, telling me, "Your anger reveals a deeper pain." Indeed, it did: years of anger at feeling marginalized in my traditional Muslim community. Over the next weeks -- and really all the years since -- I used my process of reporting to take a step back and engage in something called "Vipassana" meditation, a Buddhist philosophy known as "insight meditation" in the West, where we simply observe our state of being, instead of clinging to it, and try to get some insight into our rage.

It's a struggle, I know. But, as we dare to bring deep philosophical ideas such as karma into the conversation, it is best for us to reflect on our own legacy--not assign curses to others. Children should not follow the example of Dan Gilbert. As for all of us, his anger reveals a deeper pain, and -- not to be too touchy feely -- but I hope he finds some healing from his pain, rather than staying in a place of rage.

NBA Commissioner David Sterns seems to agree, fining Gilbert $100,000 for his remarks, acknowledging that, while "catalyzed as they may have been by a hurt," they were "ill-advised and imprudent."

We've all felt that sense of betrayal that Gilbert wrote about, telling fans, that LeBron had engaged in a "cowardly betrayal." Years ago, during one painful relationship break up, I sat at a table at the Peanut Butter & Co. Sandwich Shop on Sullivan Street in the heart of Greenwich Village, and told my boyfriend, "I curse you." Years later, he asked me if I'd lift the curse. I had -- indeed, the moment I expressed it. But they were words that would have been better left unexpressed.

Our lesson for children, I think should be: If someone angers us, we don't need to curse them. It's not appropriate on the playground. It's not appropriate in the game of life that is "samsara."

On the outburst of human emotion, India's Nobel Prize winning poet Rabrindanath Tagore wrote that nirvana "is not the blowing out of the candle. It is the extinguishing of the flame because day is come." In his letter to fans, Gilbert signed off, writing, "Sleep well, Cleveland."

For Cleveland, the next day has come. More days will come. Let LeBron James move into the next phase of his life in peace with a simple greeting that my seven-year-old son, Shibli, learned in pre-school: "We wish you well." That release from anger is the best karmic gift we can actually give ourselves. And if that means an NBA championship for Cleveland down the road, hurrah. If not, at least, it does mean, indeed, that we "sleep well."