Common Ground
CG: As the world is becoming smaller and all the world’s cultures are blending together, what helps facilitate this process?
SHK: When you blend tea, everyone prefers a different taste. That is why you have hundreds of types of blends. In order to satisfy every person, you have to offer each one something that he or she accepts. Look around this room here. You will find people from many different countries sitting together in harmony and peace; they like what they taste, and they can see that they are a part of that one flavor. Or consider a garden where you have many kinds of roses. We can say every rose is a culture, but all roses are living together sending around different fragrances. We human beings are like those flowers in the garden. Each flower does not fight with its sister or brother, rather, each is good to all of society. However, there is a big cultural diversity within our community, so there are also many thorns. We are going to find some thorns that prick and harm us; if you reach to pick a flower, you might get hurt. That should not depress us; we have to become stronger and let each flower blossom. To bring that out is to come to a real dialogue. Among all cultures and religions you can find something in common that can bring them together, and that something is spirituality. Jews, Christians and Muslims all have disciplines and rules. The rules in Islam are different from the rules in Christianity and Judaism. But spirituality in every religion is the same. Its core is love. If we can build with love a Center for spirituality, then many people will be attracted and all will come together to become that one flower. Whoever smells that flower’s fragrance will get what he wants, exactly what will make him happy.
CG: Each culture has a strength that fosters its spiritual connection with God. Please comment on that in relation to Sufi teachings.
SHK: As a Muslim and a spiritual leader who follows a Sufi path, I say whoever extends his or her hand to bring people together in the love of God and spirituality is welcomed. We will be very happy to work with those people regardless of their cultures. We will come together, extend our hands and offer our knowledge and our ways to provide a decent living for everyone in the community. Our mission is to make people integrated together, not segregated; to come together into a happy life full of enjoyment and harmony; and to try to prevent all kinds of war on this planet.
CG: How can we be more in touch with peace in ourselves?
SHK: There is a spiritual saying by the fourth Khalif in Islam, Ali Ibn Abi Talib: "To meditate for one hour is better than worshipping for seventy years." Meditation is highly rewarded because when you meditate, you try to connect yourself through your heart back to the Source, to God. People carry divine attributes of God and, as it is in Islam, Christianity and all other religions, we are of God, and to God we are returning. This belief will help you to develop a strong connection between yourself and the Source. That is when you get the divine support you need to realize your dreams in life.
CG: Before I came today, I felt I was coming to see a man of God. I have come and I have seen a man of God.
SHK: Your feelings are coming from your love for God and your innocent and pure heart. In this meeting the heart communication has created a special atmosphere of love, peace and healing energy. I do see a person of God, a servant of God, a worshipper of God in you and in your wife and in everyone in this room