Fakir Lalon Shah and the basic meaning of the kO’RAN

“The Koran possesses an external appearance and a hidden depth, an exoteric meaning and an esoteric meaning. This esoteric meaning in turn conceals an esoteric meaning (this depth possesses a depth, after the image of the celestial Spheres which are enclosed within each other). So it goes on for seven esoteric meanings (seven depths of hidden depth). ” Henry Corbin [1903-1978]

Previous Episode

Muhammad was a Prophet – and Baul’s do not dispute that he was the last one – however he was also a Man and unlike other Prophets the only 'miracle' he had was, that his limits were as limited as any Man in their search for truth. Where Muhammad succeeded is to unlock the mysteries of the world came in the form of the words of the kO’RAN which is the faithfully encrypted seed truth as revealed to him by the angel Gabriel. Contrary to popular misconception: Islam, Muslim and the words of the kO'RAN are three separate matters. The confusion starts when we mix them up.

The kO’RAN is the only book known to mankind that can be memorized and ‘commands believers’ to use their own intellect to interpret its words, sentences, text and letters. Even during the times of Prophet Muhammad, traditions say men and women would not only write it during the twenty three years it took for the revelation to meet its conclusion – hundreds would memorize them, and by the time the Prophet passed away, thousands knew it ‘by heart’.

The book as we read in the form it is today, was compiled (not edited) about twenty years following the death of the Prophet Muhammad under the direction of Caliph Uthman, and sequence followed, whereby the largest of verses start at the beginning and the smallest were placed at the end, without disengaging or disrupting the original revelation at any point.

kO’RAN is a ‘Book of Knowledge for believers and the knowledgeable’ and aL-kO’RAN translated from Arabic closely means ‘The Recitation’ i.e. as there are words, there is also rhythm, meter, music, quantize, and even mind boggling mathematics – including Atomic Calculations. At its earliest, it was wisdom passed on from the lips to ears and later written – meaning hearing, seeing and reading – as also an additional back up, memorizing.

Contrary to popular misconceptions the kO’RAN is NOT the ‘last word of gOD’ – it is indeed the last time gOD has ‘spoken’ to Mankind and a book that is to remain relevant for all times in infinity to come. It had to be thus encapsulated in more ways than what mere ‘human minds’ in our times can interpret.

There is NO 'fundamentalism' in Islam other than the words of the kO’RAN which when read, practiced and inculcated in its essence should set humanity free and not entrap it into Man made dogmas and/or dictates of either self serving Mullahs or modern Western diktats of who/what constitutes a good or bad Muslim. It is the only religion that stresses on a direct communion with the Maker – the All In All – or ‘aLLAH’. Each Man is to himself and through practice and perseverance it can be achieved.

In Fakir Lalon Shah it now appears he had an almost 18th century ‘multi-media’ introspection of the kO’RAN. He could not only quote from verses, he could set them into music, and then proceed to look at each and every alphabet or letter and locate its implied meaning in its seven hidden ‘exoteric and esoteric depth’ – much as a Calligraphist could visualize an art work, or various ‘forms’ in them.

He therefore connoted and exemplified the interpretations of ‘dIL- kO’RAN’ – or kO’RAN more than a book of words i.e. one that would live in the Soul of Man – meaning the kO’RAN, gOD and/or aLLAH is central to human existence, giving further credence to the Baul belief:

Ja kichu Bhrom-ey, Tai achey Bhrom-andey
Whatever is on Earth – is also in the Universe

The word Bhrom, Brahma etc here are derivatives of the word Abraham, meaning ‘father of many nations’ also considered meaning ‘high father’, originating from the Aramaic words ‘Aba Rama’ which does not conflict or contradict the basic Monotheistic belief of one omnipotent and omniscient ‘God’.

Several documented Shizra Nama (Sufi Spiritual Lineage Flow Chart) in Bengal tracks back Lalon and places him in categories of wisdom and intellect to the earliest ascetic and hermetic disciples of Prophet Muhammad. Aside his great mastery with Arabic words and passages from the Koran as appears in his songs, have the left Sufi order in Bengal to speculate that he was a ‘Saint’. His title ‘Fakir’ because it is an Arabic word apparently lends credence to stake such a ‘claim’.

On the other hand his vast, almost limitless knowledge on the Vedas, Upanishads, Manusmriti, Srimad Bhagvatam, Bhagwad Geeta, Ramayana and Mahabharata, and other Shonaton scripts as also mellifluously explaining the tryst between Radha and Krishna among others – somehow convinces the Shonaton that he was a 17th century Avatar!

© Ongoing Documentation: Maqsoodul Haque – Mac
Updated 15th May 2009

Fakir Lalon Shah's Parents: mATIJAAN and Malam

Previous Episode

If we are to pause time and get to specifics of the early days of Lalon to have an inkling on the ‘origins’ of his spirituality, we really do not have to look beyond Matijaan and Malam, the ‘humans’ who adopted him – neither out of choice nor by compulsion, but by reaffirmation of fate, faith and mercy – traits we have started to believe are that of ‘gOD’ not Man.

We have concluded earlier that both were devout members of the Muslim faith, and lived at a time, when religious prejudices were at its prime, as much as the spillover from the era gone by, bedevils our existence in this new Millennium - entrapping us into a mental slavery of a kind, where it is really left to us and no ‘gOD’ to free ourselves, and best echoed in Bob Marley’s [1945-1981] ‘Emancipation Song’:

“Emancipate yourself from Mental Slavery
None but ourselves can free our mind”

Imagine Lalon at this juncture: a pre or post-teen, afflicted by a disease which left him blind in one eye, (Shonaton traditions speaks of his face being ‘partially charred’, apparently the first attempt at euthanasia on Lalon was an aborted cremation) traumatized by the ordeal of his biological parents abandonment, in a state of perpetual amnesia, his body in great pain from the sores of smallpox, his enlightened soul weakened, in very frail health with possibility of recovery very slim or slow and a tortuous process.

He had also to be treated in utmost secrecy, meaning for as much as a year or more, the only people who he possibly saw and/or communicated were Matijaan and Malam? Add with that, the financial poverty of his adoptive parents. Everything had a cost implication then in penury stricken rural Bengal – as much as it does today. To feed an extra mouth, compounded with someone who is in throes of death with an ailment which leads to societal ostracization simply cannot be considered an insignificant matter.

Let’s take it from here:

Assuming that the truth about Lalon’s origin is in-between the two extreme claims i.e. a Kayashto Shonaton at birth, now at the mercy, care and tutelage of Muslims – our endeavor, quest and focus of enquiry should take us no more then his adoptive parents.

The appearance or ‘Abirbhab’ of Lalon begins with a fresh slate. His past although never known, was neither relevant nor of any importance. The new ‘pen’ to write Lalon’s life indeed began with Matijaan and Malam.

The Couple – who were they?

It is acknowledged irrefutably that the couple was spiritually inclined and whilst fAKIRANi mATIJAAN mAA (Fakirani, Queen of Fakirs, Female Fakir) was from the ascetic Fakiri Dervish order, she evidently sported natty dread locks – and had a secondary name – Jataani Matijaan Fakirani Maa – or dread locked mother.

Maulana Malam Shah as his name would suggest, was an Islamic prayer leader and a Hafez e Koran or someone who has consigned the kO'RAN into memory. Also he was a herbalist or Hakim and treated people which even to this day is a very common phenomenon in Bangladesh. Aside, we find no instance in the Bengali language of anybody being named ‘Malam’ – which translated would mean ‘ointment’?

To sum up:

Mother – Matijaan a.k.a. Jataani Maa - supremely endowed in the intricacies, practice and rooted discipline of the secretive, ascetic and esoteric Fakiri order inculcated in Ilm-e Tusawwuf and definitely knowledgeable in the four ‘stations’ of ‘spiritual’ Islam, Shariat, Tariqat, Haqiqat and Ma’arefot.

Father - Maulana Malam Shah, knowledgeable in Islam and with its script the kO'RAN fully memorized - a prayer leader and herbalist, and a Fakir himself i.e. a cumulative combination of wisdom from both Ilm-e-Shariat at its base and Ilm-e Tusawwuf (commonly Sufism) at its farthest.

Whose contribution to Lalon’s spirituality was more 'significant' is practically impossible to define – but we hope to guide readers to several possible fix as we move on.

Lalon after his Discovery and Rescue:

Lalon had the rare opportunity not only to be in care, custody and personal contact with an academic versed in the written text of Koran and its traditions The Hadith, he had the scope with both his adoptive parents, to immerse himself in the exoteric and esoteric disciplines of a Fakiri and Ma’arefoti practitioners, considered the highest level of ‘enlightenment’ in ‘spiritual’ Islam. Together with Malam's considerable skills as a herbalist - Lalon had the rare opportunity to be nursed back to both physical and spiritual health to overcome the after effects and psychological devastation of smallpox.

The soundscape that Lalon was exposed to for all practical purpose would include Malam’s daily recitation from the kO'RAN and its is quite possible that he also heard his father teach the script to students in an adjoining room, or repeated over and over again in a Mosque close by. A prayer leader never lives too far away from a Mosque. It is impractical.

Some bAUL traditions claim that Lalon was Hafez E kO'RAN ‘by birth’ – but there can simply be no truth to this. The strongest likelihood: it takes just about anybody regardless of faith and/or ‘religion’ to memorize the kO'RAN in two years of rigor at a Hefz (memorizing syllabus) school, with variations in Islamic history suggesting that children as young as four years of age have become Hafez – and one Ibne Shihab Al Zuhri in 742 Hejira, apparently memorized the nearly 300,000 word book before he reached the age of seven in staggering eight days!

Thus in the case of Lalon it is entirely possible that he memorized the kO'RAN - or parts of it - during the times he was convalescing, and while he made no claims to the same – even without ‘claiming’ the title, it is possible that he may have been a Hafez as many of his later day Bahas with the Muslim clergies would exemplify.

There are mentions of him not only quoting verses from the kO'RAN in random, but also selectively as well as flawlessly reciting longer strains, to supplement his argument in challenging the misconstrued beliefs of the time.

These are traits and talents only a Hafez can display, and Lalon may not have only consigned the kO'RAN to memory – he took extra pain to explain them in context of his times, with interpretations that a lot people then, as even today are unwilling to accept. That is where the Fakiri traits and excellence in the Ma’arefoti discourse regime in his upbringing are reestablished solidly.

There was simply nothing new in what Lalon was saying. If there were any ‘miracles’ associated in his words and actions, it was only the continuation of the earliest messages of wisdom known to mankind. It was time for him to fine-tune what he had learnt and pass it on. The messages of the great pROPHETs of our times, to the next in providential line – The pOETs.

We are left to draw our conclusion, that fate had intervened and landed Lalon an infallible opportunity to broaden his horizon and thus place him in a unique position to conjoin humanity not only in Bengal, but all mANKIND.


© Ongoing Documentation: Maqsoodul Haque - Mac, 1st April 1, 2009

Enquiry into Fakir Lalon Shah's Spirituality

Previous Episode

Evidence proves Matijaan and Malaam reared Lalon in what were to be tragic and profound times in his life. In all probability the trauma of small pox, abandonment by his biological parents in a raft to Mercy of Fate – together with the devastating effects of the disease greatly disturbed his psychological equilibrium that quite possibly slipped him into near permanent amnesia and he was unable to recall his past.

Also as a consequence it is not unlikely that his highly evolved mind moved on to realms of what may be considered ‘paranormal’ mental planes, i.e. and if legends are to be believed, it is very likely that he instinctively acquired knowledge in extra sensory perceptions, precognition and maybe even psychokinesis.

Fate therefore placed Lalon in a critical juncture in history not only in his time in life and that of Bengal, but indeed that of all humanity. What we are bearing historical witness here, is the resurrection, re-evolution and transmutation of the spirit of Essence Man with all his frailties and all its possibilities.

In Lalon the Man, there is evidence of kindred hope in the horizon. To let this opportunity pass us by with supremacist ideals, fractious, fragile and divisive ‘religious beliefs and sentiments’, would be sentencing ourselves to death of reason – a moral crime worse then treason, yet ironically researchers over 200 years have locked horn over claims and counter claims on Lalon by both Hindus (Shonaton hereafter) and Muslims being adherents to their respective faith and/or religion.

The reality of the misunderstood legacy of Fakir Lalon Shah’s spirituality was his challenge and direct confrontation of grounded norms of the times he lived, when he very cruelly earned the ire of Shonaton Purohit priests and Islamic Mullahs and it had all to do with his interpretation of their respective ‘holy’ text and scriptures.

Where they failed as much as later day enthusiast and researchers: Lalon was an Agnostic Sage, who reaffirmed faith by remaining firmly ingrained to Monotheism – or belief in one gOD – with its origins rooted from the times of Abraham – the founding father of monotheistic faith, Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Thus the initial perfidious enquiries by the curious about Lalon met with stoic resistance from the Sage himself when he oft repeated his song – which later went on to become a Baul anthem:

Shob lokey koi Lalon ki jaat shongsharey
People are curious about the caste of Lalon
Fakir Lalon e koi jaater ki roop,
Fakir Lalon says, the face of caste
Ami dekhlam na dui nojorey
Oh…I have not seen with thine two eyes

The question of caste, creed and religion thereafter became an unimportant and insignificant aspect in the study of the Sage. Having said that, it matters very little the ‘caste, creed or religion’ one is born into – for essentially it is not a matter of individual choice, but belief systems imposed upon offspring’s for guidance by their biological parents.

Lalon’s snycretic ‘fusion faith’ if we may elaborate - revolves around belief and disbelief, existence and non-existence of the ‘Supreme Being’ being delicately balanced on rationale, logics, enquiry and commitment.

Simply put agnosticism is often implied as ‘acceptance of the Unity of God’ but a rejection of ‘religious rituals’, in Lalon however the rejection was limited to prevalent dogmas or meaningless practices which was in direct contradiction to what he viewed were the laws of nature, or even the natural process.

If Belief and existence be the North Pole, and Disbelief and Non-Existence the South, Fakir Lalon Shah was the Equator of our times – an ‘imaginary line’ but one which faithfully delineates the axis of the Universe – yet has necessarily revolved in a straight line even when there is no such thing as a straight line!

Didactically between [A--------B] since we do not know where A starts or B ends, all we can safely deduces is the so-called ‘straight line’ is a cyclic circle, going round and round, in as much as the Universe, its many Solar, Lunar and Planetary systems and very much in the ways of time.

There is no such thing in the bAUL pantheon as a ‘rolling stone gathers no moss’ – for ‘moss’ in the Soul are aberrations – and the Soul as such needs constant redefinition and reaffirmation. ‘What goes around comes around’ is an easier way to define the ‘straight line’ of faith. The ‘forces’ in question were centripetal – not centrifugal.

So did the kO'RAN or Islam have anything to do with Fakir Lalon Shah’s orientation into ‘faith?

© Ongoing Documentation: Maqsoodul Haque - Mac 1st April 1, 2009

Enquiry into the 'Origin' and Early Days of Fakir Lalon Shah

These enquiries are limited to existing findings and rationales on the great sage, and are the collation of available data in our folklore, treatise and or literary periodicals and sociological researches of the times gone by until the present.

We insist that what we put forward to readers is 'verifiable' evidence and we have expanded on the scope made available to further our argument in scientific and logical spheres wherever possible.

1. There is empirical evidence to suggest and confirm that a man by the name of Fakir Lalon Shah did exist in Seuria, Kushtia in what was pre-partition (1947) Nadiya district of undivided Bengal, British Imperial India. His date of birth is not known and his death as recorded in his tombstone is 1st Kartick, 1297 corresponding to the Gregorian calendars 17th October 1890. It is estimated that he was between 115 to 117 years of age at the time of his departure – meaning he lived approximately between the periods 1774 AD to 1890 AD.

2. Traditions (not myths) reaffirm where researches and documentations have failed - that Lalon by choice, implications or necessity 'never revealed' his date of birth, the name of his biological parents, his religion, caste or societal background, and any pertinent information that could have been used to track back his roots and origins.

3. Accepted overall is that he was discovered in a near semi-comatose state near the banks of the River Kaliganga in Seuria, Kushtia with a full blown case of smallpox virus (variola major) - a disease discovered in 10,000 BC, with estimated mortality rate as high as 30 to 35%.

4. In 18th Century Europe 400,000 people died of the smallpox each year including seven reigning monarchs – Queen Mary II of England, Emperor Joseph I of Austria, King Luis I of Spain, Tsar Peter II of Russia, Queen Ulrika Elenora of Sweden, and King Louis XV of France.

5. In India the disease evolved about 3,000 years ago with devastating consequences. It appears only among humans and there were no known animal reservoir – nor did insects ever play a part in its transmission. On the 8th of May 1980 World Health Organization declared smallpox to be dead and successfully eradicated from earth.

6. The person who instinctively rescued Lalon from his plight was Motijaan mAA (The Precious Jewels Mother, possibly a later day honorific) who had gone to fetch water before dawn and found his near lifeless form washed up on the river bank, breathing only in gasps and when the sound of sighing drew her attention.

7. Matijaan rushed back to her cottage and summoned her husband Maulana Malam Shah and both reportedly carried this seemingly teenage child (some traditions mention pre-teen) indoor for care, treatment and restoration of health and well being. It is reported that the couple was childless and Lalon thus became their only adopted son. The disease left Lalon apparently partially blind in one eye and his face and rest of his body permanently scarred and/or disfigured with characteristic pockmarks.

In analyzing 1 to 7, we have to bear in mind the social conditions prevalent in Bengal at the time, and historically there are documented evidence and traditions encapsulated in our heritage indicating that smallpox victims were often subject to involuntary euthanasia, - either buried alive or cremated secretly. In rural backwaters the more 'humane' option was to strap a victim to a bhela or makeshift raft made with stalks of the Banana or Bamboo plant, which is then left to float freely overnight in the course of river current, leading either to the raft capsizing, and/or being deliberately scuttled at discovery. Lalon was subject to the same ordeal – the difference being he possibly fell into water and was miraculously washed ashore.

Horrific as this may sound, the author of these series of essays witnessed the Bhela (Raft of Mercy) phenomenon firsthand in the 1960's. A raft adorned with red flag signaling danger - carrying a solitary terminally ill patient veering listlessly in the River Buriganga in Narayanganj – with people on both banks of the river fleeing at the sight of the raft, and boats on course pushing the raft to midstream allowing for a clear passage.

As such, contrary to popular misconceptions, the only way Matijaan and Maulana Malam Shah could have saved Fakir Lalon Shah was to spirit him off secretly to their cottage and confine him without anybody in the near vicinity, having any knowledge of the presence of a patient afflicted by pestilence.

The secrecy option would have been necessitated as otherwise it would have led to violent incidents like burning of the couple's home, with bodily harm and death not outside the scope of possibilities.

The times were desperate; harboring one smallpox patient would amount to death for of an entire village population. Why then would Matijaan and Malam take such a risk?

© Ongoing Research - Maqsoodul Haque - Mac 1st April 2009

Exchange with Pradipta

Pradipta Bhattacharya (Tampa Bay, FL) replied to your post

I think Macbhai it was good of me not wasting efforts after that initial burst - u made my day. From here please take it off to the Socio-cultural aspect of Bauliana.. would really like to read your views and interpretations.

My Dear Pradipta,

Many thanks ...and no yours wasn't an outburst but a genuine curiosity about the bAULs which I welcome and is probably my duty as a 'boidutik bAUL' to try and explain and pass on the message within my limitations and time.

If there is anything called 'faith' or 'belief' - then I guess for me, this is it - and really no one has to agree with me - or even agree to disagree. If only there is at all any genuine appreciation for what I am doing here - everybody will only be helping me achieve my mission in life.

That in itself is a blessing cause I see gOD in each and every word everybody writes. gOD doesn't dwell in any terrestrial air conditioned comfort UP some trillion kilometers away in that vague place called hEAVEN. He is right here with us all of us and we are only but infinitesimally nanometers away from each other - forever binding - forever growing - forever.......the evolution of mAN can never be complete without the mind evolving - the broader our horizon - the higher our capacity.

That said - I am halfway done with my research and study on the most crucial part of bAULIANA - Lalon's 'origins' and orientations to faith and spirituality and the contentious chapter - Lalon and Rabindrath.... I will start with the latter first - as you got me going Bro :)

Keep the spirit and flame alive....

jOI gURU /\

Mac

Explaining bAULIANA - The Concept of gURU among the bAULS

Pradipta Bhattacharya (Tampa Bay, FL) wrote on August 11, 2009

I am not sure where the concept came from but a Baul worth his cent will never leave his impression on others. He or She sings seeking the man within for himself or herself. There is no concept of Guru (a major practice deviation for any religious sect) - as for them anyone other than the self is a Guru. :-) Kind of confusing but true.

Smita Ghose (India) wrote on August 11, 2009

It is a very interesting and enlightening write up Pradipta. Do want some more on this. I found in Mimlu Sen's book "Baulosphere" that concept of Guru was there. ..and they had to take dikhsha.

b) The gURU in the bAULs:

There have been disagreements in these discussion about the concept of gURU among the bAULs. What I will try to say, will not be a safe trajectory, but I wish to attempt it based on historical notions, instincts and verifiable facts.

For one – the concept of the gURU does exist in the bAULs, and if there is at all any difference, it is in its interpretation. The gURU conjures up an image of a venerable sAGE, somebody who has an answer to most questions troubling us. If it is a mAN, a hUMAN, it would be necessary to equate him simply as a teacher and or guide – nothing more to it. We all have been and are dependent on teachers or guides in our lives. Even in the smallest way we do not stop learning, and most that we learn comes from input of someone who is perhaps slightly more aware or ‘enlightened’ or 'educated' then we are.

None of us would be able to communicate here had it no been for an ‘education’ that we all have been blessed with. To take it further, none of us would have any acceptance in this ‘society’ if the light of education did not reach us.

bAULs therefore do not reject society per se, but look at alternative means at addressing societal woes and anguish, with emphasis being on reaching out to the sOUL of mANKIND, as also ensuring that pEACE and tolerance be the enduring credo of our existence.

It would be wrong to say that all bAULs have a gURU, there are actually more of them out there who do not have one or never had one – and I am proud to say – I am one of them. But then for those who have never had an education of any kind simply because their parents couldn’t afford to give them one, for the sHONATON there was always an Ashram to take refuge, for a Muslim the Madrasa, and for Agnostic either it was to take tutelage from a gURU, mURSHID or a pIR at an Ankhra.

Basically what these people had/have (with exceptions), are they gave a alternative, and divergent view on spirituality then the existing status quo would permit or afford. I have many friends who are gURUs in their own right, have disciples etc – but on enquiry I have found that what they possess are thoughts, ideas and words of great wisdom for which many flock around and feel 'blessed' with their presence, much as we would our teachers from kindergarten down to University.

Wisdom on its own is not tangible commodity – neither can it be passed on to those that are not knowledgeable and/or do not yearn or have a thirst for the same. Then we have the ‘lips to ear’ wisdom that cannot be shared – but only passed on to the ‘ear of the knowledgeable’. I would love to expand/ elaborate on this if there is any genune interest on this.For the time being I trust this link should prove useful:

With that comes the Islamic concept of mAN being ‘Ashraful mAKLUKAT’ – or the best of creations, and whether gOD up in hEAVEN made us so is debatable, what we consciously cannot deny is we are the only creatures on the planet that can communicate our views, see all colors of the rainbow and importantly express our feelings.

The ‘Sufi’ order of the bAULs therefore interprets, if we are at all gODs best creations, we do not have to look skyward, indeed each and every one of us has a gOD within us worth our wORSHIP.

The mANUSH gURU concept is at the foundation and as fAKIR Lalon Shah said:

"Shorbo Shadhon shiddi hoi tar

mANUSH gURUr nishta jar,

bHOBEY mANUSH gURUr nishtha jar
Nodi kinba bil baor Khal

shorbo shathaney eki ek jol

Eka mere sHAI firen shorbothai

mANUSH e mishiya hoi bHED (Ved),

bHED antor mANUSH gURUr nishta jar"

Download and listen to bAULANI Shahnaz Bely's rendition at this link:

If we were only to understand that it is nothing more than the sOUL that drives us, keeps us going in our times on the planet, then simply put - gOD exists in our sOUL, for try as we may, we have not been able to explore it, tap it, or exploit it to common benefit. The sOUl is perhaps the only thing we are aware of that is infinitely individual..... singular tryst with destiny.

I recommend friends to read this post for further understanding:

To end – this is what I wrote in my book :

"The Baul Guru therefore is no Man, but the Maker in each and every Man, and it is how we approach our faculties associated with cultivating knowledge, is the difference in the Guru that the Baul reveres and ones the charlatans have made a practice to exploit his fellow Man. The sore bone of contentions that have ravaged the minds and thinking of evolving thought processes in Bengal however continues unabated even among the different schools of thoughts of the Bauls. To equate the Guru to that of the Maker is Sin in the Baul pantheon, for possibilities of arrogance and subterfuge have appeared, with damming ramification to Mankind. Let us be reminded of the Pharaohs, long before monotheism came about."

With that jOI gURU to all in Adda Today – by that is meant – “I salute the gREAT gOD in you”

Love and best wishes.

Mac

To be continued……………….

Dhaka, 27th August 2009

Explaining bAULIANA - The Orgins of bAULS - Part 2

Pradipta Bhattacharya (Tampa Bay, FL) wroteon August 11, 2009

One thought is that Sahajia Maat (Maat as in Doctrine) originally came from Buddhism. Its a known fact that around 10th Century AD in Bengal - Buddhism really got bastardized (please no value judgement on my selection of the word) and took the path of Hinajaana - Lower Trajectory. There the practitioners mixed Buddhist philosophy with Hindu Shakto practices. The out come was Tantricism and similar religious abominations.

Hi Pradipta and Addafyers !

Thanks for your insight and my apologies for the delay.

So as not to make this boring -I am going to concentrate on the first part of your post – and time permitting move on to other issues later.

Recommended Reading: A glimpse of Buddhism in ancient Bangladesh

a. Origins of bAULS:

You got the bull by the horn when you say bAUL's originated from bUDDHISM. It’s true that bUDDHISM degenerated into extremes in Bengal and therefore not unlikely that it met the 'fate' it did.

‘Who did what to whom and why’ – are matters that don’t bother bAULs, but some evidence do suggest a genocide on the bUDDHIST was perpetrated in Bengal (I am leaving out historical/hysterical details!) and apparently large sums of money was offered for the heads of mONKs.

What set into motion was slaughter on an unimaginable magnitude. My take on this is that a large chunk of the population of what is now Bangladesh and parts of North East India were bUDDHIST from the Sakyamuni (Silence) order - and when slaughters got going - nobody much cared about sects. Being bUDDHIST was good enough.

If we are to look at the buDDHIST relics in Paharpur, Mahastangarh and elsewhere in Bangladesh, this part of Bengal was a thriving bUDDHIST center of knowledge - and most of the ancient site were Universities. It appears that Bangladesh was the Center of the bUDDHIST world and much importance was attached to its networking with Bihar India and rest of South and South East Asia.

Quite possibly two things happened after the genocide.

1. The secretive mONKs - some were slaughtered, others fled - and if we are to take the instance of the the earliest "Bangala" script - it is gathered that fleeing mONKS decamped with them , and some were later discovered in an ancient bUDDHIST Monastery in Nepal.

2. What then happened to the resident bUDDHIST - who possibly wore the "Chibor" (saffron-ochre robe) and "Mundu" (shaven head) - but were not mONKs and had not degenerated?

Some legends suggest that they fled to the impassable jungles and reversed their roles. Off went the Chibor and they grew their hair and beards. As an additional disguise they wore a white shroud - denoting that they were already dead and instead of remaining consciously silent about gOD - they started 'singing' the praise of the one gOD.

The simplistic "Ektaar" used by bAULs whose origins are thought to be in modern Turkmenistan denotes an affiliation and or introduction to a sophisticated culture - and it surely is way before the advent of Islam or the ‘Sufi's’.

While I have no evidence to back these claims - the ‘truth’ may well be between 1 and 2, but my instinct tells me - this could be the possible origins of the bAULs.

Make no mistake – bAULIANA is no religion and its practitioners are not ‘religious’ , but ‘spiritual beings’.

......To be continued

jOI gURU /\

Dhaka, 19th August 2009

Explaining bAULIANA - The Origins of bAULS - Part 1

Babuji Bose wrote on August 6, 2009
From my limited understanding and based on a visit to Keduli (near Shantiniketan), the annual ilgrimage West Bengal Bauls make to birthplace of patron-sant Joydev ... Bauls are poet-singer akirs, who have renounced the world and material possessions ... in West Bengal side they would generally follow Vaishnavite traditions, songs emphasizing Krishna ... on Bangladesh, side, the patron saint is Lalon fakir, and reaching to ecstasy/union with a more abstract divine entity ... m not sure whether boatmen (bhatiyali) songs of Bangladesh are Baul origin-ed, but have mesmerizing lyrics on thes same theme ... but more from the experts.To add an observation, and though it may sound contrarian, it is something, which will come up in honest debate ... is the issue of the validation of the religious ecstasy experience ... whether Sufi or Baul ... sure it appeals, it stirs emotions, evokes sublime thoughts and feelings ... but in a technical sense, is it valid ?! ... more valid, than say any other out-of-normal body experience, say hypnosis, or hallucinatory ... can the age-old subject-object dichotomy be obliterated in a sublime ecstasy experience ? ... is union, or even vision of God, technically possible ? ... can we crash through the wall to reach the 'unknowable" ??

Dear Babuji,

It would be unfair to delineate bAUls on geographical lines, cause if we are to look at the times of Fakir Lalon Shah, Kushtia was in Nadiya district of West Bengal - the hub of the spiritual renaissance with Joydeb and many others shining their 'light' or lamp.

I have tried to gather more information on the origins of the bAULs but frankly think its an exercise in futility for most that have been written and/or documented are based on myths and half truths. Not worth my time really....

The other notion that the bAUL philosophy is unique to Bengal is also a trivialization. bAULs couldn't have simply dropped off from 'hEAVEN' and in my continuous research I am able to go back to pre-Abrahamic periods - even up to the time of Hermes the great in Egypt.

What I find very interesting are things that Joydeb, Lalon etc said, wrote or preached, to even things the modern day fAKIRs are saying - is nothing new in the realms of 'spirituality'. Its just that most of these later day sAINTs became saint because they could unlock the 'mysteries of nature' and have access to 'keys of all tEMPLEs'.

The bAULS believe that a BIGGER LAMP will always light SMALLER LAMPS and this will continue apparently till eternity. Explains perhaps like Lalon most of the bAULs are called sHAH - or among other 'regal lamps'.

Its a popular misconception that bAULs renounce the world. Far from it there are very many category of bAULs and the ones I know all have families and many have children. There are Grihi, Krishi, Charen and various others - who have to look for a livelihood as part of their belief system.

Exception perhaps are the sADHUs who literally sing and beg for an existence and live of largesse of various sHRINEs and aKHRAAZ...what is amazing is many of them also have 'families' of sort...sHEBA dASHIs - female companions - and in some cases more than one.

How they manage not to have children is a story for another day :)

jOI gURU /\

Dhaka, 9th August 2009

Explaining bAULIANA - Addressing Misconceptions about 'Sufis' and bAULS

Smita Ghose (India) replied to your post on August 4, 2009

In Sufi way of life, the Tarikat is the spiritual path one has to follow to attain perfection.the self is gradually purified and transformed into Divine Attributes, until there is nothing left of one's commanding self. Then all that remains is the Perfect, Divine Self. The disciple, through the stages of purification, travels the inner way, the spiritual path (tariqat). Having traveled this path, the disciple becomes a perfect being and arrives at the threshold of the Truth (haqiqat). When the truth is achieved then comes the state of maarefot.....The musical and ecstatic aspect of Sufism is called "sama". The sufis, while being spiritually enraptured, give all the attention of their hearts to the Beloved. Often with special and rhythmical music, they engage themselves in the selfless remembrance of God. In this state, the sufi is a drunken lover who becomes unaware of everything but God. With all their faculties the sufis are attentive to the Beloved, and have totally given up and forgotten themselves.

Dear Smita,

First of all there is no "Sufi way of life"..it is a Belief system and in Islam - contrary to popular misconceptions and what I have stated in my earlier post " it is the only religion which stresses on a direct communion with the Maker – the All In All – or ‘aLLAH’. Each Man is to himself and
through practice and perseverance it can be achieved."

Secondly - you are right, the word "Tarikat" does mean 'path' ('spiritual' or other is secondary here) among others - but it also implies 'different paths' and is not as rigid as many would imagine.

Nonetheless, as one who doesn't see any dissimilarity within any religion or belief system, a sHONATONs meditation and chants, or a bUDDHIST or Christians hymn - is therefore not any different then say a Muslims "Dhikr". It is ONE and the same "Tarikat" to reach salvation.

Thirdly - "Truth" is again a perception and may not always be Reality. What may be truth for one can quite be falsehood for another. Likewise sIN and sALVATION or vice versa.

"Hakikat" is only a appreciation of undeniable reality - like the sUN rising in the East and setting in the West. Like.... much as we may reach "divinity" - the mere chanting of prayers will not suffice. we have to go out and earn a livelihood.

Fourthly - the state of mA'AREFOT differs vastly and cannot be codified in one set of behavior.

The idea that one gets enraptured as in a state of a "drunken lover" is again a Western bias - much as my bAUL fraternity are disdainfully termed "people affected by the wind". It seems incredible to me that one can become 'insane' simply because he/she is "touched by gOD" ! The state of mA'AREFOT is a very personal experience and once 'reached' can totally transmute a person.

Therefore on the one hand hand you have the Rebel pOET Kazi Nazrul singing:

"kHODAr o premey sharab o piye, behosh hoye roi porey hai

Teri mASJID amar o mURSHID, ke elo ei poth diye hai

I am of the opinion that Nazrul suffered a "burn out" after "attaining" the state of mA'AREFOT - a precious loss for hUMANITY. Yet on the flip side however the lORD bUDDHA on "attaining" Nirvana and his famous saying - 'it has left me' - meaning he attained NOTHING - then slipping into a state of sAKYAMUNI (sILENCE) - whereby he attracted more followers then while he had 'preaching' and talking - serves as important reminders.

In reality, both moved into a state of mA'AREFOT.

Lastly - mA'AREFOT is a state that is not discussed in public. It is wisdom passed on from lips to the ears and the lips of wisdom is sealed - and open only to the ear of the 'understanding'.

jOI gURU /\

Dhaka, 5th August 2009

Explaining bAULIANA - ILM-E-Tussawuf

Babuji Bose replied to your post on July 10, 2009

Mac .. do elaborate and enlighten ... many of us here know Sufism mostly thru its poetry and music, not formally ... many of us, even less of orthodox Islam ... am trying to get Sumedha to anchor this thread ... from Adda experience, we know that some threads need involved anchoring to flourish ... she has the spiritual training to do it ... but in lady's privilege, has neither said yes or no ... just maybe ... keep shining ...

Dear Babuji,

In essence the word "Sufism" doesn't exist - it basically means "Ilm a Tsawwuf" which is complimentary to "Ilm a Sharia" - meaning you cant have either/or in denial of the other.

Now I can sense ears getting tomato red as you read the word "Sharia" cause it is misconstrued on the Western notion of stoning people to death for adultery or chopping off your limbs/organs for stealing or 'impropriety' :)

Quite on the contrary - the whole equation and order of things probably go this way:

Shariat - The Seed Truth (also called the foundation or base) - the seed creates the tree and no one can conceivably deny this reality - even when it comes to human - we are but creations of 'seeds' :) Likewise if we are to compare a building - it has to start from bottom up - the foundation, base and so on.

Hakikat - The Reality Check - Tree growing - everybody say 'hey that's a beautiful tree coming up' or 'wow that's gonna be a skyscraper'...a point of common recognition of 'reality' which everybody accepts and nobody disputes.

Tarikat - The various branches of tree - call it 'religion, way of life' - whatever. The essence being in the natural state nobody can not control the direction of branches (unless you are making a Bonsai) - and likewise the variety of branches and their respective development - makes a tree - attractive, healthy and interesting. Same with cultures, races, HUMANITY. On the construction front - you have Masons, Plumbers, Electricians, Brick layers all working towards one 'Hakikat' goal.

mA'AREFOT - The state of 'Extelligence' - i.e. beyond normal and perceived human Intelligence- one that is fed by stimuli in our sensory organs - even the sixth sense.

The flower in this case if we are to use the Tree analogy. Something we can see and smell essentially (pluck it and put in a vase for a few days, and maybe even eat it - like we do Banana flowers!) - but everything as in life - is 'short lived' if not short charged. What is unknown is the reverse back to the seed. How a flower develops seeds, and how they are pollinated by insects, eaten by Bats and spread over areas - where again from seed it comes back to the 4 stages of "llm e Tusawwuf".

Two pointers here :

1. The words ILM is taken from the first three words of the kORAN - ALIF, LAAM and MEEM - which simply means "knowledge", and "Sufis" 1500 years later are still trying to break the code of the 3 words. bAULs have so many explanation - each are mind boggling. No luck really....

2. There is also a possible state of 'super mA'AREFOT' ( sometimes referred to as "Wilayah" ) - as some "Sufis" take lessons from the kORANic text where it says "mAN can do whatever he thinks through knowledge and perseverance - even turn clay into gold".

So its up to mAN - if we can even 'think' of creating building 'top town' as opposed to 'bottom up' - its a doable possibility :)

To end: There is NO 'fundamentalism' in Islam other than the words of the kORAN which when read, practiced and inculcated in its essence should set humanity free and not entrap it into Man made dogmas and/or dictates of either self serving Mullahs or modern Western diktats of
who/what constitutes a good or bad Muslim.

It is the only religion which stresses on a direct communion with the Maker – the All In All – or ‘aLLAH’. Each Man is to himself and through practice and perseverance it can be achieved.

“The Koran possesses an external appearance and a hidden depth, an exoteric meaning and an esoteric meaning. This esoteric meaning in turn conceals an esoteric meaning (this depth possesses a depth, after the image of the celestial Spheres which are enclosed within each other). So mit goes on for seven esoteric meanings (seven depths of hidden depth). ”

Henry Corbin [1903-1978]

Please download and listen to "Cholona Kori fAKIRI" - a Sufi" song meant to teach sex and sexuality to children:

Dhaka, 4th August 2009