Ben Vereen Video Clip -- Toning

Prayer -- George Appleton (b.1902-d.1993)

"O Creator Lord, let me feel the 'isness' of things and people, without resistance, without trying to impose my own pattern upon them or exploit them for selfish ends. Let me welcome them, enjoy them, value them, love them, for what they are and for what they are becoming through your creative love."

Heart Reality - Quote from Love Without End

"Your heart will always know what is true, although the process of living is required to learn the details! Reality responds instinctively to love. You do not have to use force to implement reality. Have courage, for reality exists to work. You do not have to use persuasion, or know influential people to invoke reality's potential. Reality belongs equally to everyone. Therefore, licensed permission, special education, and originality are not required. Reality represents the utmost in honesty, innocence, and approachability, even to the smallest and most innocent child. You simply have to know that reality is one with God and have the courage to accept it. The heart knows truth as that which sets it free."

"Love Without End", Chapter 15

Spiritual Windowshoppers -- A Poem by Rumi

These spiritual windowshoppers,

who idly ask, 'How much is that?' Oh, I'm just looking.

They handle a hundred items and put them down,

shadows with no capital.

What is spent is love, and two eyes wet with weeping.

But these walk into a shop,

and their whole lives pass suddenly in that moment,

in that shop.

Where did you go? "Nowhere."

What did you have to eat? "Nothing much."

Even if you don't know what you want,

buy something, to be part of the exchanging flow.

Start a huge, foolish project, like Noah.

It makes absolutely no difference what people think of you.

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By Jalaluddin Rumi, from the Divani Shamsi Tabrizi, version by Coleman Barks, From "Rumi: Like This"

© Copyright 2008 Robert Wilkinson

Heartache - A Poem by Rumi

Learn from the Prophet an alchemy: Whatever God gives you, be content.

At the very moment you become content in affliction, the door of paradise will open.

If the messenger of heartache comes to you, embrace him like a friend!

A cruelty that comes from the Beloved -- bestow upon it a warm welcome!

Then that heartache can throw off its veil, rain down sugar, and be gentle and heart-ravishing.

Seize the edge of heartache's veil, for she is beautiful but deceptive.

In this lane, I am the whoremonger, I -- I have pulled off the veil from every beautiful face.

They all put on ugly veils so that you will think they are dragons.

But I am fed up with my spirit -- I worship dragons! If you are fed up with your spirit, then hear their calls of welcome!

Heartache can never find me without laughter -- I call the pain the "cure."

Nothing is more blessed than heartache, for its reward has no end.

If you do not show your manliness, you will find nothing. I will be silent, lest a mistake jump from my mouth.

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Divan-i Shams-i Tabrizi, poem 2675, from W. C. Chittick, "The Sufi Path of Love: The Spiritual Teachings of Rumi," (State University of New York Press, 1983), pp. 293-4.

Lord's Prayer in Aramaic