“The rush and pressure of modern life are a form, perhaps the most common form, of innate violence. To allow oneself to be carried away by a multitude of conflicting concerns, to surrender to too many demands, to commit oneself to too many projects, to want to help everyone in everything is to succumb to violence. More than that, it is cooperation with violence. The frenzy of the activist neutralizes his work for peace. It destroys his own inner capacity for peace. It destroys the fruitfulness of his own work because it kills the root of inner wisdom which makes work fruitful.”
Thoma Merton: Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander, p. 81
Ik voelde me plotseling begrepen in mijn worsteling van de laatste tijd, toen Klaaske dit citaat van Thomas Merton voor me opspitte uit de sociale media.
Bladerend in zijn boek vond ik nog een andere passage die me erg blij maakte, waar hij het heeft over de ‘praising universe’ van het Oude Testament en de psalmen, “of which man is a living and essential part, standing shoulder to shoulder with the angelic hosts who praise Yaweh – and praise is the surest manifestation of true life.”
Een betere sfeertekening van het triomfantelijk cantate, jubilate, exultate van de Qawwals van Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan kun je niet geven, de lof van Allah zindert door de zaal en komt zinderend je lichaam binnen.
Om in de stemming te komen, hierbij nog eens zijn juichende Allah Hoo, in zo’n prachtige uitvoering dat het het gebrek aan videobeelden doet vergeten. Eronder vindt je de complete tekst.
“Allah Hoo” by Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.
Aaaa (Sufi Chants)
Ruler of the world, he has no companions
The promised one, there is nothing but you
Every great scholar is your student
In every scent, there is nothing but you
Creator of and worshipped by both worlds
Every thing is witness to your manifestation
On everyone’s lips is your prayer
In every chord, every song is your presence
Every beginning is with your name
With your name ends everything
Your praise is ‘praise be to Allah’
That you are the God of my Mohammad
Allah Huu! Allah Huu! Allah Huu!
Allah Huu! Allah Huu! Allah Huu!
When this earth and world did not exist
When there was no moon, sun or sky
When the secret of the truth was still unknown
When there was nothing, there was you
Allah Huu! Allah Huu! Allah Huu!
Allah Huu! Allah Huu! Allah Huu!
Everything is a reflection of your glory
Every thing cries out that you are the Lord
Allah Huu! Allah Huu! Allah Huu!
It is the distinction of your enthralling visage
You are the unrivalled Lord of the Universe
Allah Huu! Allah Huu! Allah Huu!
Allah Huu! Allah Huu! Allah Huu!
You who shows new beauty every instant
Surprises even those who yearn for more
Every sapling sings of your creation
Every leaf is a signature of your nature
Allah Huu! Allah Huu! Allah Huu!
Allah Huu! Allah Huu! Allah Huu!
My God, you are the splendor you promised
You are the curiosity, you are the desire
The light of my eyes, the voice of my heart
You were, you are, and will be only you
Allah Huu! Allah Huu! Allah Huu!
Allah Huu! Allah Huu! Allah Huu!
(Sufi Chants…)
Allah Huu! Allah Huu! Allah Huu!
Allah Huu! Allah Huu! Allah Huu!
You are everything, what is the argument in this
The whole world is searching only for you
Even as your magnificence is in every corner
He has no companions, Lord of the world
Allah Huu! Allah Huu! Allah Huu!
Allah Huu! Allah Huu! Allah Huu!