The Saints of God - a Sufi quote

Click the image to send this as an ecard.

The saints of God are known by three signs:
their thought is of God,
their dwelling is in God,
and their business is with God.
- Ma'ruf Al-Karkhi
quoted in Travelling The Path of Love: Sayings of Sufi Masters p.43

Sufi prayer, author unknown

O blaze of the world you are dear, you are dear
O beholding the beloved, keep near, keep near

I am the creation, I am the house
I am the trap and the mouse
I am wise and mad, stay here, stay here

I am the secrets you can’t see
Cloak and turban are both me
I am the cloister and the monk, do appear, do appear

I am mortal, I am old
Chains and shackles my feet hold
I make plans, don’t disappear, don’t disappear

I am the noon, I am the eve
Fire of love with my heart receive
I am the candle giving light, stay clear, stay clear

I am the prayer and the angel in flight
I am the fire, I am the light
I am the Promised Land, so dear, so dear

I am here, I am to be
Alpha and Omega are in me
I am aware of the others, keep near, keep near

I am the acquaintance and the friend
The lover and beloved in the end
I am the flower and the thorn, don’t fear, don’t fear

I am the season and temporal train
I am the minor, I am the main
I am the mind and the story, be here, be here.

A Sufi master was sitting quietly, when a group of men came to punish him for the wrongs he was accused of committing. The men rained blows on the Sufi master, hitting him a thousand times. Yet, the master remained silent and no sign of pain appeared on his face. After they had finished beating him, the men took the Sufi master to the court. The judges asked, " How did you suffer no pain when you were beaten? " The master replied: " When the men were raining blows on me, my beloved wife was looking on. Her love made the pain seem easier. Then I thought that, if the loving gaze of a human being can ease pain, the Loving Gaze of God can eliminate pain altogether. "