"Prophet Muhammad showed us great example in this regard. We are his followers so we must follow his examples. According to Islamic history, Prophet Muhammad was said to practice meditation in the cave of Hira in Mecca for fifteen years. He chose a calm and quiet place to meditate God for long time. Then gradually he was hearing God, hearing God's angels. Even once he started to get the revelation as God's messenger, he continued his hard work – the meditation. He meditated long time at night because night is more calm and quiet so night is a best time to do meditation."
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Prophet meditated for 15 years in a cave before he started to get revelations, and establish a channel of communication with God. And, let's now think what big-shot religious personalities in the world do to achieve their status and authority in the society?
Yesterday evening, as we were strolling around the park with some friends, talk about Gita, religious scripture of Hindus, came up. I asked them to tell me just one thing that they have learned from listening to the recitation of Gita thousands of times in their lifetimes. Consensus answer was - whatever we hear during those recitations cannot be followed in practice.
I know that's the truth with almost every religious people in the world, meaning, no one can follow religious most of the edicts contained in the scriptures. In fact, I know, no one can even follow these few verses, you have cited in the comments below.
Don't take me in the wrong way - these are all good verses, but impractical to following them. So, people simplify them as it suite them and benefit them. That's how religion gets distorted and practiced. This is the reality, unfortunately.
Everybody can pick and praise their scriptures goodness, but that's not going to change the face of the religious practice across the board. The reality is – people can't just follow them. Period.
From: "Koutuhol conf12000@yahoo.co.uk [mukto-mona]" <mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com>
To: mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, August 16, 2015 4:00 AM
Subject: [mukto-mona] Hearing God's instructions via Dhikr and meditation
Hearing God's instructions via Dhikr and meditation
[The Quran 2:186] When My servants ask you about Me, I am always Near. I answer their prayers when they pray to Me. The people shall respond to Me and believe in Me, in order to be guided.
God almighty answers our prayers when we pray but most of the people never ever hear God's answers! What a pity! Here problem is that God does not talk with us like other human talks with us. God calls us, God answers us but we must know how we can hear God's voice. Over time, we must develop another kind of ear so that we can hear God's answers!
[11:61] To Thamoud we sent their brother Saaleh. He said, "O my people, serve GOD; you have no other god beside Him. He initiated you from the earth, then settled you in it. You shall seek His forgiveness, then repent to Him. My Lord is always near answering/replying.
We must remember Allah very often. We must concentrate our mind towards the remembering of Allah. Nothing is more important than this as a Muslim. We are always busy for some kind of mechanical and ritual religious practices but we are missing the heart of Islam. Our mind is so fast, so busy and chaotic and that is the main reason we never hear God's answers.
[29:45] Recite that which has been revealed to you of the Book and keep up prayer; surely prayer keeps (one) away from indecency and evil, and certainly the remembrance of Allah is the greatest, and Allah knows what you do.
Prophet Muhammad showed us great example in this regard. We are his followers so we must follow his examples. According to Islamic history, Prophet Muhammad was said to practice meditation in the cave of Hira in Mecca for fifteen years. He chose a calm and quiet place to meditate God for long time. Then gradually he was hearing God, hearing God's angels. Even once he started to get the revelation as God's messenger, he continued his hard work – the meditation. He meditated long time at night because night is more calm and quiet so night is a best time to do meditation.
[73:20] (O Muhammad) Your Lord knows that you meditate during two-thirds of the night, or half of it, or one-third of it, and so do some of those who believed with you. GOD has designed the night and the day, and He knows that you cannot always do this. He has pardoned you...
Are we following this great example of the prophet? If not, do not blame God, God is answering our prayers but we are not hearing because our mind is somewhere else. We must develop our mind sufficiently (to develop another kind of ear) so that we can hear God and God's angels. Thank you and may God bless you.
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"Our inherited beliefs are entrenched in our psyche and emotions like idols. The shaking or breaking of these idols is no less a calamity in whatever form they exist [Dr. A. N. Whitehead]."
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Posted by: Jiten Roy <jnrsr53@yahoo.com>
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Mukto Mona plans for a Grand Darwin Day Celebration:
Call For Articles:
http://mukto-mona.com/wordpress/?p=68
http://mukto-mona.com/banga_blog/?p=585
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