It is breakfast time at the Singapore Orchard Hilton. I am having an American breakfast. You will hear more about the cuisine, viewing photographs.
Armed with a white Americano I wrote an email which freed me from oppression. Told my neighboring diners my White Americano story.
Me: I was living in London. When ordering milk with your Americano in London you say you want a White Americano. I would order White Americano please – pointing to my face. My American accent clearly identified me as an American. I am, as you can, see pale-faced.
An idiom came to mind when writing the email. Could not quite recall it but did later. Once bitten forever: shy. A person who has failed or been hurt when trying to do something is careful or fearful about doing it again. The entire quote. “Once bitten, twice shy. Once caring, twice cry. Once beloved, can’t deny—heart broken, twice die.” It was most suitable for the ‘occasion’. Doubt you read the contents of the email. It was not mean, sort of funny occasionally but I did get my point across.
The internet contains a story behind the idiom. “She thought that everyone was like Raj, and that no one would ever love her sincerely. She became lonely and unhappy, and she lost her cheerfulness and friendliness. She forgot how to smile and laugh, and she only felt pain and anger. She lived by the motto: once bitten, twice shy. This is not my story, I am not lonely, not unhappy. However, if I were to do a repeat performance with that man I would definitely be lonely and unhappy.
Found this quote: “You are the author of your own story; make it a masterpiece.”
This is my morning American breakfast. Rice Crispies that go snap-crackle and pop. Then I was able to recreate my Buddy Judy’s Brunch – scrambled eggs with lox. We would sip endless glasses of champagne, instead today sipped virgin orange juice. I remember a few years ago at the Vancouver Royal Yacht Club, a U of A reunion, The bartender was serving mimosas.
He: Would you like a mimosa?
Me: No orange juice thanks. I like my champagne and my men straight.
He: That is funny!
Me: I guess you are not gay otherwise you would be offended.
I must admit to this: I live a rather lopsided life, actually a very lopsided life. Lopsided is uneven, tilted, skew-whiffed, cock-eyed. Not at all even, level, balanced. Therefore this blog, which speaks of my life is also tilted. We will now leave the secular world, returning to the spiritual world. Back in Penang, before my Singapore Sojourn, wrote about a new discovery – Sufism.
My introduction and involvement is an intriguing story. I was speaking with TOG (the nickname of a Lexis Suites staff). We were discussing religious orientations. His father, a Sufi, orientated him into the Islamic Faith. I had heard of, but knew little, of Sufism. Always curious eager for more knowledge I embarked upon a new journey. My first step, looked to Wikipedia. There I learned the basics.
“Sufism…. is a mystic body of religious practice found within Islam which is characterized by a focus on Islamic purification, spirituality, ritualism, and asceticism.[1][2][3][4][5] Practitioners of Sufism are referred to as “Sufis” (from صُوفِيّ, ṣūfīy),[6] and historically typically belonged to “orders” known as tariqa (pl. ṭuruq) – congregations formed around a grand wali who would be the last in a chain of successive teachers linking back to Muhammad, with the goal of undergoing tazkiya (self purification) and the hope of reaching the spiritual station of ihsan.[7][8][9] The ultimate aim of Sufis is to seek the pleasure of God by endeavoring to return to their original state of purity and natural disposition, known as fitra.
The Wikipedia entry is extremely detailed, the more I read, the more questions came to mind, wondering about the daily practices and their ‘orders. This led to further conversations with TOG.
Me: If I had questions about Sufism could you take them to your father and ask him to respond. It is most helpful that he speaks English (haha)
He: Yes. I would be happy to do that..
Embolden, kept reading the Wikipedia entry, forming a list of questions.
Something altogether surprising happened which paved the way on my journey of knowledge. I was exploring my Apple iBook account, searching the name of a writer who has been immensely inspirational. The author whose book led me to greater Islamic knowledge and faith following my very disappointing December 2022 Umrah. Before going on the pilgrimage I leaned of Martin Lings’ Biography of Muhammed from the Earliest sources, ordering it from an independent book store prior to my trip to Saudi Arabia. Discovering its arrival braved the cold Edmonton temperatures to collect the book. Went into hibernation for three weeks, completing it – emerged totally inspired. It should be required reading for all Muslims, particularly upon reaching adulthood.
This was the treasure found on iBooks. I purchased for a mere $5.99 Into His Lord’s Mercy: Remembering Martin Lings (January 24, 1909-May 12, 2005) (Obituary). I devoured the book, discovering that Martin Lings was a Sufi. The book was just what I needed, in the same manner as the biography was during those frigid winter days.
The book spoke of Marin Lings life. The manner in which everything came together – being led from one transformative experience to another leading up to the publication of the biography. Here in an excerpt from that book
“It was the publication of his Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources
in 1983 that was to totally change the public image of Martin Lings as a
writer. (28) This biography of the Prophet of Islam is not only the best
work of sirah in the English language; it is one of the best biographies
of the Noble Prophet ever written. The book is
essentially one man’s spiritual journey into the time in which the
Prophet lived; it is as if Lings lived with the fullness of his yearning spirit in Makkah and Madinah and then came back to re-live that life during which hundreds of ordinary men and women were coming into contact with the Prophet and their lives were being transformed. Its exactitude, its directness, its chiseled prose, its intimacy with the subject, its
profound sense of humility–all are simply unparalleled in Sirah
literature. What makes this book unique in the entire corpus of Sirah is
not merely the skilled use of primary sources, but Lings’ ability
to immerse the reader in the Prophetic time in such a vivid way that one
begins to breathe the very air of Makkah and Madinah of the seventh
century.
It is, however, not merely the well-researched data that makes this
book outstanding; it is its ability to transform the reader by seizing
his or her spirit in the intimate flow of events that makes it a living
testimony to one man’s passionate involvement in and recall of a
Prophet’s life. “The book is also not merely a dramatic recount of
the life and times of a man whose words and deeds have remained a
constant source of guidance for billions of people over the last
fourteen hundred years, it is a living text that transports the reader
into that other time through a sacred understanding of history, and it
does so in very human terms.”
“The poetic flow of language is a gift which Lings had understood as
a sacred responsibility even at the young age of twenty-three, when he
wrote his second poem, The Muse, with which his first book of poetry,
The Elements and Other Poems, opens:
Many have sought what now I seek, and few have won;
Yet not the less I am driven to pray: pause in thy fleeing
While I have breath, and call to me, and lead me on
Into that garden where the Muses sing and dance,
That I may fill mine ears with sound, mine eyes with seeing,
And make for men some deep enduring utterance. (29)”
Excerpt From
Into His Lord’s Mercy: Remembering Martin Lings (January 24, 1909-May 12, 2005) (Obituary)
Islam & Science
https://books.apple.com/us/book/into-his-lords-mercy-remembering-martin-lings-january/id521104549
This material may be protected by copyright.
Yesterday during my prayers found a verse in the Quran so uplifting and inspirational. It was found randomly. When such verses are found I find guidance.
“He grants wisdom to whom he will; and whoever is granted wisdom has indeed been granted abundant wealth. Yet none hear this, in mind except those endowed with Understanding.” (Quran 2: 269)
Another translation entitled this Wisdom is Privilege, Not a Right . The wording slightly different. “He grants wisdom to whoever He wills. And whoever is granted wisdom is certainly blessed with a great privilege. But none will be mindful of this except people of reason. (Quran 2: 269)
These are indeed perilous times when wisdom is much needed to sooth the masses (if they would only listen). This is a time of great turmoil. Attempting use one’s wisdom to follow or lead to the Straight Path is needed. This is a time where the search for the Truth is rather desperately needed. I found myself being pulled out of the quagmire of politics, instead learning about Sufism.
Photographs following the blog will include the Rice Crispies, scrambled eggs with lox. The Good Morning picturing an absolutely beautiful flower arrangement found outside the Executive Lounge was sent to friends and posted on Instagram.
