Shadows of Echoes of Clarity
Max Dahlstrand
Thoughts and inner experiences clad in words –a work in progress 2016-2020
Remembering Death
I want to remember death
– at all times.
But I forget.
In forgetfullness I am dead.
2020-07-20
Life
What love! What joy!
To stroll amongst the trolls, elves and pixies.
In the meditation of the breathing forrest.
2020-03-30
20-20
Glases and lenses aside,
Many people see clearer now than ever before.
2020-03-21
Narrow Mind
Caution!
Have Mercy before you read!
And ever thereafter!
2017
Good Conduct
Be silent!
No pamphlets!
2017
On the Journey
Do not occupy two seats!
None of them belong to you!
2017
Deliverance
Love is the parcel in which God’s message is delivered
2020-03-14
A Week at Rasooli
Silent tears of joy!
2020-03-02
Magic Potion
Otherness
hints the portal
Oneness
takes you through
2020-03-03
Return
No escape
But to God
2020-03-01
Turning
Heart turning
Tree vibrating
Clarity overwhelming
Insight forcing the mind
Experiencing the human quest
Thankfully adapting
In tune and tuning
Out of tune, tuning
Striving further
Hit by scattered blessings and,
Longing.
Longing to be parted from self
Oh, that self
Stay behind!
All soul,
nearer then the jugular vain
Dis-appearing
2020-02-17
House of God
How wonderful it is to see through the heart.
Eyes redundant,
world exposed,
Spirit alive!
Praying for that humbleness to last:
to forever submit,
in this moment,
at the house of God.
2020-02-07
A Glimpse
Is the now, that we are blessed
–or doomed– to experience,
a glimpse of Eternity?
2020-01-23
Pots
Pots as vessels;
for thoughts.
2020-01-23
Craft
Sculptures that offer different uses;
not stale figures collecting dust.
To throw my hat on!
A place for keys and other things.
That sculpture dances, listens.
Made to beautifully
serve
the world;
While inwardly turning to center.
2020-01-20
Throwing clay
Throwing a bowl
is like turning Self
to make room for Soul
2020-01-01
This World
That,
–which you see
in the beam
of your head lights
travelling down the road
in pitch black–
is dunya.
2019-12-25
The Host
You have not borrowed this planet.
The planet has borrowed you.
She is your host,
her shelter your safety.
So do not abuse her.
Be thankful for her hospitality,
show respect and,
learn her ways.
Through Him she will invite you
to wonderful gardens
full of wonders and awe.
To ponder upon them will suffice.
Then,
after three days,
when her duties to you have been enjoyed,
and your journey continues,
you do so with ease and without regret.
And she will thank you and is a witness for what you have done.
And she will welcome those coming after.
But if you are arrogant, ignorant and greedy
she will swallow you,
dishonor you
and reject you.
And threaten to close her door for those coming after.
2019-12-11
Looking in
Standing on the outside,
looking in;
the place to be,
a vivid, different dimension.
Haven't gone through, yet
Still standing, materialized
To move, to cross the line,
ego cannot follow.
2019-11-22
Change
Change is a good reminder of the Constant.
2019-11-04
Re-Denture
Impressions are indents in your mind. Expressions are them popping out.
2019-11-02
Burn
Everything we own,
will burn:
First a piece, then the rest.
Happy,
are the smaller furnaces.
2019-07-04
Shielded experience
There is only Now
Time is us experiencing it
2019-03-04
No Matter
When the Chaos seems to begin,
Remember:
what matters is that of no matter.
2019-02-12
This World
This world is the footprint of Allah
So do not leave a trace behind
But in the hearts of your kind
2019-02-12
Different ship
There is no membership in Islam.
Only remembership.
2018-11-22
The Saint
The thoughtless man may not hear the music.
The artist has found the symphony within, and plays along.
The saint lets God play His symphony!
Today's Tounge
Generated words used to take generations.
Social media changed that.
But few know their meaning.
Cause and Effect
We deserve the Sea in which we are drowning;
from Isis to Pegida.
Attention Intention
If your intentions are great
(well, at least good
– alright then, average)
then re-boot and ask for cover!
Listen
Do you not remember what the Beloved said?
Listen to the birds!
Chill(a)*
If you are lost,
keep calm!
Found yourself?
* A chilla is a sufi seclusion retreat practice to get to know one's self. The most extreme example (Chilla-yi) is a forty day seclusion deep down inside a well, only to come up during times of prayer.
Prostration
Do we need larger mosques,
or smaller Muslims?
Religion
The earth is the hall of prayer.
Yet we build walls!
Service
Do not serve your Religion.
Serve the Jew, the Christian, the Buddhist and the Hindu!
Heart
Empty the world from your heart.
Is it filled with blood?
Try again!
Step Aside
Who are you?
How old are you?
Where are you?
Step aside.
Fear and Hope
My fear is to think I am.
My hope is, to know I am not.
Hear
Listen to your heart:
– Allah, Allah
Listen to your breath.
– Allahu, Allahu
Sound Stillness
Silence is the sound of stillness.
Stillness is the moment
of knowing God.
Alpha Beta
How can you own that
which you borrowed from the alphabet?
A Shadow
The one who cannot paint a portrait,
draws a caricature.
In that some see the portrait.
Nafs
Few are the imams
that can hear the mimbar!
War of the Words
Do not mistake: a word is often sharper
than a sword.
Anger
To build,
we need many hands.
To destroy,
one mouth is enough.
Contradition
A physical now
is an oxymoron.
Dhikr
Sleep, a vessel for Self parting from Self.
–Take off and landing is crucial.
Awakedness, a vessel for Soul.
–Rememberance of God is crucial.
The Portal
The distance from here to the end of universe
is vast.
The distance from your heart to Eternity
is nigh.
Shock of realization
The provocateur is often the visionary.
Honesty
All the things you do contrary to God's Symphony,
leaves the music unsound.
Let God
Do not tamper with the flow!
Friendship
Friendship is that amazing moment
when the curtain between two egos are lifted;
leaving both souls uncovered.
Dis-covered friend.
Greeting
Hello fellow soul!
Allahu
How can we love,
without Your love?
How can we see,
without Your sight?
How can we be,
without You?
Allahu!
Acceptance
To question is a good beginning.
To be in awe is a great end.
Move vertically
When the soap is cooked,
clean with it!
Love
All the things I do,
all the things I say,
all the things I think,
all the things I know;
what are these things,
if I may,
but veils between me and You?
Oh God, let me remember!
For every breath,
for every heart beat,
for every thought,
that I am with You;
let me live!
let me die!
let me resurrect!
and spare me from my self,
and cover me!
And give me shade,
and love me!
So that I may love You,
with every breath,
and that which is in between!
Almond in the Pudding
We're in this soup together:
Me and you, the sun, the moon, air and fire.
There is no barrier between us and the stars,
neither between our inner secrets and the banana fly.
But there is this,
–and it is not a thing,
that separates us from that;
our Soul
(like an almond in the Christmas rice pudding).
Drops of Blessings
I am like a fly
*
resting on the backpack of my Shaykh.
Carried from one great gathering to the next.
Hit now and then by scattered drops of blessings.
* No! Less than a fly. For a fly constantly buzzes its tireless hymn to God.
Time
Time
–for the Self–
is seeking measure of eternity.
Time
–for the Soul–
is of no concern.
Space
Time-space is where you think you are.
Yet in your heart is the portal to eternity.
So where are you?
Or rather, are you?
Scent of Paradise
The best a fellow can do
is leaving his Self,
leaving behind a wonderful scent,
for others to follow.