Ramadaan has begun. It’s already the 9th fast, time is flying by and before we know it, it will be over.
That feeling of excitement will be replaced with sadness. So I am trying to get as much as I can out of the blessings of this month.
I read an interesting tweet: “Masters of the truth have said that our physical strength depends on food and drink while, our spiritual strength depends on going hungry and thirsty.”
I am a wanderer who searches for the deeper understanding of the message.
Ramadaan is much more than the grumbling of empty stomachs. The hot samoosas, freshly baked pies and aromatic haleem isn’t the real essence of this month.
For me personally this is the month to celebrate my spirituality; remove all the barriers that cloud my mirrors of reality. Fasting helps me discover my’ hidden self’ which is masked behind the veils of ego, pride, arrogance. Fasting is a deep physical act of discipline. My state of consciousness is heightened.
It is a method of controlling the self that is found in our bodies and connecting us to a higher form of awareness and capacity to control and self-regulate. It’s an opportunity for self reflection. Our Creator multiplies the goodness in our lives. I don’t think our training wheels for spiritual development ever ends. We try so hard to keep both our physical and emotional in check.
Perhaps the greatest lessons of this month are how we sustain these moments going forward. Sustaining that inner peace, the deep reflections. We become peace producers and how we should continue with our peacemaking efforts with everyone.
How to rather illuminate with warmth and love and lessen those outbursts of anger?
How will Ramadaan change the people we are for the month and hopefully for a lifetime, isn’t that the lesson we are being taught?
This very thought allows me to reflect about the past Ramadaans’ in my life and the effect they have had on me. The most poignant Ramadaan memories I have, was last year, it was the first Ramadaan without my beloved mother, the wisdom she shared, the constant reminders about the essence of this month which she imparted.
Ultimately, for me, my Ramadaan experiences are about the knowledge and strength I take from the fasts, the prayers. As simply as an individual, if I can be caring and empathetic during this month, the universal wisdom which I am learning should be acted upon daily because this is the essence of this month.
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