Sohbet

Spiritual conversation is divine light. It brings us close together and melts us in unity. 

~Sufi Aphorism~ 

Sohbet is the connecting point of all other activities: individual practice, group remembrance, music, study, social life, ethics. 

~Kabir Helminski~

Sohbet is the primary practice of certain Sufi groups, where conversation with "a mature one" becomes the means of sharing the state of attainment.

But more importantly, it is an exchange between people like no other way of communicating. Exchange is more than just words, something happens among the participants that is "felt" rather heard, inviting us to listen deeply to each other.  A practice that will greatly enhance our ability to "hear" the Beloved.

Subhana'Llah

Moments of Silence

It is only in this silence that we can listen for God.

"Surely there is a Reminder in that for whoever has a heart, or listens attentively, while he is witnessing.."

Sura Qaf, 50:37

Ibn al-'Arabi prescribes moments of silence during ritual prayer precisely for "listening for God."

He says: So it is obligatory for the servant, when he has finished reciting the verse (in prayer), to listen attentively, while he is witnessing. Therefore the person praying becomes silent, so that he can see what God is saying to him concerning that, as is only the spiritually appropriate behavior (adab) with God. 

That is how this matter remains between the listener and the One speaking to him, so that the listener might gain benefit (from that silent pure receiving in prayer). For you must know that kings do not take a person without proper adab to sit with them, nor to converse with them at night, not to be their intimate companion.

Excerpt from the Futuhat al-Makkiyyah Chapter VI, 217-219, 

as translated by James Winston Morris, Reflective Heart.

Technology of the Heart: Stay close to any sounds | sohbet is deep listenin...: 1. Stay close to any sounds that make you glad you are alive. Everything in this world is helplessly reeling. An invisible wake was created ...

Prayer

Then a priestess said, Speak to us of Prayer.And he answered, saying:You pray in your distress and in your need; would that you might pray also in the fullness of your joy and in your days of abundance.

For what is prayer but the expansion of yourself into the living ether?And if it is your comfort to pour your darkness into space, it is for your delight to pour forth the dawning of your heart.And if you cannot but weep when your soul summons you to prayer, she should spur you again and yet again, though weeping, until you shall come laughing.When you pray you rise to meet in the air those who are praying at that very hour, and whom save in prayer you may not meet.Therefore let your visit to that temple invisible be for naught but ecstasy and sweet communion.For if you should enter the temple for no other purpose than asking you shall not receive:And if you should enter into it to humble yourself you shall not be lifted:Or even if you should enter into it to beg for the good of others you shall not be heard.It is enough that you enter the temple invisible.

I cannot teach you how to pray in words.God listens not to your words save when He Himself utters them through your lips.And I cannot teach you the prayer of the seas and the forests and the mountains.But you who are born of the mountains and the forests and the seas can find their prayer in your heart,And if you but listen in the stillness of the night you shall hear them saying in silence,"Our God, who art our winged self, it is thy will in us that willeth.It is thy desire in us that desireth.It is thy urge in us that would turn our nights, which are thine, into days which are thine also.We cannot ask thee for aught, for thou knowest our needs before they are born in us:Thou art our need; and in giving us more of thyself thou givest us all.

By Kahlil Gibran

The Prophet

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