Comments on: Nafs (Ammara) http://blog.dancemeditation.org/2009/05/03/nafs-ammara/ not an oxymoron Sat, 04 Sep 2010 20:41:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Anita http://blog.dancemeditation.org/2009/05/03/nafs-ammara/comment-page-1/#comment-1278 Anita Tue, 05 May 2009 19:50:34 +0000 http://blog.dancemeditation.org/?p=278#comment-1278 Love this discussion. So useful. And the poem is beautifully gritty and honest. The words 'sterile and bleak'... Especially like this passage: Again and again into the bend, into the rise I turn and turn and, not finding one genuine thread of motion, flail. Pious, saccharine, sterile, bleak. Day after day of reaching in leaves only the walking of a fine line: some days the slide into contentment, but missing that gate of grace, stubbing toes in the barrens outside a winter palace. Maybe I’ve forgotten something, Forgotten to drink a round rich breath. Forgotten to drown. Forgotten the emptiness full of ocean swells and curved bones floating in light. Boy I can relate. These edges, curves in the road, gaps, cliffs...they are good teachers! Thank you for sharing. Love this discussion. So useful. And the poem is beautifully gritty and honest. The words ‘sterile and bleak’…
Especially like this passage:

Again and again into the bend, into the rise
I turn and turn and, not finding
one genuine thread of motion, flail.
Pious, saccharine, sterile, bleak.
Day after day of reaching in
leaves only the walking of a fine line:
some days the slide into contentment,
but missing that gate of grace,
stubbing toes in the barrens outside a winter palace.

Maybe I’ve forgotten something,
Forgotten to drink a round rich breath.
Forgotten to drown.
Forgotten the emptiness full of ocean swells
and curved bones floating in light.

Boy I can relate. These edges, curves in the road, gaps, cliffs…they are good teachers!

Thank you for sharing.

]]> By: Dunya http://blog.dancemeditation.org/2009/05/03/nafs-ammara/comment-page-1/#comment-1277 Dunya Tue, 05 May 2009 04:17:57 +0000 http://blog.dancemeditation.org/?p=278#comment-1277 It was great to see you in Boston, Ann. About the nafs, there is a link in the initial entry here; the Wikipedia has a bare-bones description of the progression. But there are many good texts. I'll share these at the SMM...Good thought on the origin of harshness towards the self. It was great to see you in Boston, Ann.
About the nafs, there is a link in the initial entry here; the Wikipedia has a bare-bones description of the progression. But there are many good texts. I’ll share these at the SMM…Good thought on the origin of harshness towards the self.

]]> By: ann http://blog.dancemeditation.org/2009/05/03/nafs-ammara/comment-page-1/#comment-1276 ann Tue, 05 May 2009 01:06:50 +0000 http://blog.dancemeditation.org/?p=278#comment-1276 I am happy to read this post and these comments as well. I am interested in the Sufi definitions and progression..where might I locate this info? I like that you found it happened as you read about, years later upon returning to forgotten info. That is one of my favorite kinds of affirmations! That, and reading/hearing something for the first time after already having experienced it. I can relate to the swing between indulgence and harshness that you speak of. I think, though, that my harshness, when I get to the bottom of it, is usually linked to some grief from an early loss. Saturday I loved your workshop in Boston, though I couldn't follow everyone in the circle dance as I usually do...I thought of judging myself for it (even at the time), and didn't have the energy to! So I decided against it. I suppose the circle dance will continue to change for me...maybe I will even look forward to it one day!! I am happy to read this post and these comments as well. I am interested in the Sufi definitions and progression..where might I locate this info? I like that you found it happened as you read about, years later upon returning to forgotten info. That is one of my favorite kinds of affirmations! That, and reading/hearing something for the first time after already having experienced it. I can relate to the swing between indulgence and harshness that you speak of. I think, though, that my harshness, when I get to the bottom of it, is usually linked to some grief from an early loss. Saturday I loved your workshop in Boston, though I couldn’t follow everyone in the circle dance as I usually do…I thought of judging myself for it (even at the time), and didn’t have the energy to! So I decided against it. I suppose the circle dance will continue to change for me…maybe I will even look forward to it one day!!

]]> By: Dunya http://blog.dancemeditation.org/2009/05/03/nafs-ammara/comment-page-1/#comment-1275 Dunya Mon, 04 May 2009 17:16:46 +0000 http://blog.dancemeditation.org/?p=278#comment-1275 The Sufis have an efficient set of nafs progressions. In my written piece, I integrated our modern psychological understandings of self. Modern Western psychology is very big on being kind to one's injured inner self. For me, I can get so indulgent, even sloppy. But when I tighten it up, I get harsh. The Sufi structures are sophisticated and moral. Sometimes I prefer the clarity with which these operate; other times I feel that they inflame unproductive self-judgment. I have to keep an eye on how it is playing out. The nafs progression is beautiful though. I feel how it encompasses much of my development. I knew about these definitions years ago, then I forgot them and just kept doing my practice and teaching. Now as I return to the reading, I find that the shifts have happened in me exactly as they were articulated in the Sufi system. So I am happy at this realness. It helps me trust more in the whole endeavor. The Sufis have an efficient set of nafs progressions. In my written piece, I integrated our modern psychological understandings of self.

Modern Western psychology is very big on being kind to one’s injured inner self. For me, I can get so indulgent, even sloppy. But when I tighten it up, I get harsh. The Sufi structures are sophisticated and moral. Sometimes I prefer the clarity with which these operate; other times I feel that they inflame unproductive self-judgment. I have to keep an eye on how it is playing out.

The nafs progression is beautiful though. I feel how it encompasses much of my development. I knew about these definitions years ago, then I forgot them and just kept doing my practice and teaching. Now as I return to the reading, I find that the shifts have happened in me exactly as they were articulated in the Sufi system. So I am happy at this realness. It helps me trust more in the whole endeavor.

]]> By: karleen koen http://blog.dancemeditation.org/2009/05/03/nafs-ammara/comment-page-1/#comment-1271 karleen koen Mon, 04 May 2009 13:37:22 +0000 http://blog.dancemeditation.org/?p=278#comment-1271 Thank you for that explanation, since I battle continually with that part of me which does not want to practice regularly......Karleen Thank you for that explanation, since I battle continually with that part of me which does not want to practice regularly……Karleen

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