Editor’s Note

As we come out with the third issue of Cloverleaf some things are worth giving a thought to. The year 2018 has given us all a new hope and a new page for humanity to write its History on. While the rich and privileged made their mark with new houses, new businesses and new achievements, the poor, the under privileged and the refugees of various warring nations continued the same as before torn from their homes, looking forward to safe sanctuary and survival midst homelessness and unforgiving winters. The global community continued to march on the road to material progress and material prosperity while half its population was impoverished, starving and dying in war ravaged or famine ravaged countries.

The question arises as to why the divide and the why the difference between people living on the same Earth. The answer is the same for all such questions namely ‘selfishness’. We the people of this Earth have begun to think that all the benedictions are meant for us alone and we should live life enjoying them. So its not just humans, but animals and nature too that are taking the brunt of this selfishness.

The air on the earth becomes more choked and toxic and so do the streams and the oceans.

The resultant climate change has begun to wipe out bio diversity in all its colours and hues.

Thus it is not with a little alarm that we look on the US government as it lifts sanctions on the free and unfettered use of natural fuels and natural energy.

Those of us who are privileged enough to have home and security and a comfortable life have forgotten that all our wealth is our spiritual testing zone. This was the spiritual education that we received from enlightened ones such as Gautam Buddha, Jesus Christ or Prophet Mohammed, that we as guardians of this Earth have received benefits only for own betterment and to improve the lot of others around us. For eventually we will have to bring ourselves to account as to how we spent that wealth. So whenever I see the poor, the homeless and the disenfranchised I feel the lightness of their responsibility as compared to mine.

I could define it another way, if I have earned my prosperity and comfort through my karma through different lives, this is the point where I must let others too share it or it will only turn into gross misery and unhappiness.

This is also relevant to the deep and abiding bond between nature and humanity and alarmingly everywhere there are signs that this relationship too is in peril. There are signs in nature of the fate of humanity and its gross indecencies and its rapacious greed. So the rising of the blood moon may have been a cause for celebration and festivity everywhere or as a spectacle of the beauty of Nature, but for a few of us it it told a different story.

The recent rising of the blood moon in the sky which was also a beautiful eclipse awakened in me the awe of God’s created universe. The beautifully crafted moon which hung like a giant orange in the sky which gradually began to eclipse the sun which was peeping out from its edges pointed out to me a cycle of life and nature. There are intermittent cycles of rejuvenation and destruction as the moon eventually shone brighter than ever as if some unearthly force had polished it to a heavenly glow. This helped me to see hope despite all the current state of chaos on the earth  in all its painful political, economic and social upheavals as a passing phase which would eventually lead to a better world.

The articles in the current issue too testify to this hope for a better world.

Shiv Talwar in the Editor’s note emphasises on the importance for spiritual education for greater unity and harmony in the world.

Atif Khalil in his article “Gratitude in Islamic Contemplative Ethics” dwells on the importance of gratitude for greater prosperity and a more rewarding life.

Rajendra Narain Dubey in his article “Roots of Unity” takes a look at the unity and diversity of life and the root of all existence.

Stephen M. Modell shows how crises can be averted and everlasting peace be found by deliberation between different cultures in his article “Differences of Deliberation”

Simran Parmar in his article on meditation and neuroplasticity takes us into the world of Psychology and how meditation has much to offer in that field.

 In my article “The Spiritual Journey and its Hidden Meanings” I have tried to delve into the universal meaning and metaphor of the spiritual journey

Asim Nasir in his article “One Town, One Heart, Ten Cultures” speaks about the cultural unity and diversity in the heart of his hometown Sugarland in Texas bearing out the need to unite for prosperity and progress.

 Aneela Azeemi dwells on the importance of meditation in Sufi lore in her article “An Old Tradition of Muraqaba for Restoring ‘Peace’ in Modern Living”

Debamitra Dey in her article on Sankhya philosophy delves into the realm of sacred Hindu texts to uncover profound philosophical ideas.

Tony Samara in his poetic prose “Joyous Communication” brings out spiritual perceptions to resolve crises in human life.

My poem—-“A Blind Crow” is about a mystical journey

Wishing all our readers a beautiful and inspiring sojourn through this new issue of Cloverleaf.

Sami Rafiq

Editor