Rumi Quote: Women dominate men of intellect and possessors of hearts. But ignorant men dominate women, for they are shackled by an animal ferocity"

 

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan in Los Angeles, 1996

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan '96

by Fazeel Aziz Chauhan

(Published in Pakistan Link ~ September '96)

In August, I had the honor of seeing Khan in concert twice.The man is responsible for making Qawali music popular around the world. He has truly had a profound influence on my life. I traveled to Berkeley with my father and noticed the majority of the audience was Caucasian. Knowing that being a Muslim is considered a crime in America, I was very happy and proud to see that they had come to appreciate a Pakistani Muslim. I realized that it was an extremely rare occasion where the man being admired by Americans was mine, the music was mine and the heritage he represented was mine. That makes us feel proud. Outside that auditorium, there isn't a large place we can call our own. The overt and covert pressures of society can force a person to not be himself. But at Khan's shows we felt free to walk, dress, talk and act in our own true and natural way.

In Los Angeles, the tension in the air may have been due to the open racism here. But Pakistani youth danced in ecstacy, free and proud. Some demonstrated their power and rebellion by taking off their shirts. We usually hear nothing good about Muslims from the dominant society. Khan has broken through those barriers, forcing the listeners to take a second look at Muslims. His music is on the soundtracks of Last Temptation of Christ, Bandit Queen, Natural Born Killers and Dead Man Walking. He has albums with Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam, and Michael Brooks.
Khan sings many Qawalis about Allah and Prophet Mohammed (PBUH). In addition, he sings about the lives of many Saints who can serve as real heroes. For example, one of the many Qawalis praising Hazrat Ali talks about his courage stating:
Ali was victorious in all battlefields
Khayber still trembles upon hearing his name
When I sit in my car and plug in one of Khan's tapes, it takes me to another world. There, I get wisdom, courage, and joy. And I am ready to face whatever comes my way.
Professor Tayyab says "It is not that WE are trying to be like THEM. The truth is, THEY are trying to be like US". They steal ideas from the East, re-package them and label them as "Western". Why is it "cool" for Sting and Robert Plant to wear our Kurta or Sherwani, but when we wear our own clothes, it's frowned upon as if it's unacceptable like a crime?

Shed That Stink

Shed that Stink by Fazeel Chauhan

Be Hear Now Feel your Pulse Get your Heart to beat In sync with the music of this Moment Where your Feet are Loosen up Let go of the baggage of the past Bury that shit In the earth So you get grounded And that stuff becomes fertilizer Stops stinking And blooms Into flowers and Fruits Related to what Rumi said: Let your heart be where your feet are. As explained by professor Omid Safi

24 Points for 24 Hours... (and affirmations)

24 Points for 24 Hours

1.    The best of Creation is a human being. God’s Light and Energy are within us

2.    Have your Heart be where your feet are

3.     An un-used gift, becomes a curse

4.     Be Self-reliant: Emotionally, physically, mentally, financially and spiritually

5.     Ordinary people often accomplish extraordinary things

6.     Reign in your ego. It can be used as a weapon or as a tool

7.     Inch by inch, it’s a synch. Yard by yard, can be hard. Working hard or working smart?

8.     Be hear now

9.     I can write my own destiny, one day at a time. Taking ownership, not giving blame

10.   I can start my day over, at any time

12. The inner Self is more powerful than the external influences

13.  Follow your Conscience

14.  The journey of a thousand miles, begins with a single step

15.   Coulda Woulda Shoulda don’t work. Do your best and leave the rest to God

16.   A Samurai does what he can, til his higher purpose is revealed

17.   Go in the direction of your fears and your fears will disappear

18.   Getting emotional will cloud your decisions

19.    Most people are 95% bluff

18.    Today, I will do what my ideal Self requires of me

20.     We use excuses, lies, distractions and quitting, to not do the right thing

21.     I give and receive help

22.    The present is my present. I am present

23.     I don’t get another chance at life. Delaying til “tomorrow” doesn’t come

24.     Each of us is given a destined number of breaths. Can’t add or subtract from them.

           Count your breaths. Count your Blessings. Value each breath