So i was like, ''got this whole identity thing.... born in the UK but raised in a micro community - didn't interact with many white people till school.. realised how pakistani I was later on, but not really pakistani as I had many aspects of western culture within me, but didn't feel truly embraced by white British people..."
He replied, "I never had that problem... after coming to this country i realised - and I don't know where I got this from - that there is such a thing as a universal prototype. There is a way to be that applies in all cultures, where everyone will appreciate you regardless of race or background. Characteristics like truthfulness, love - who wouldn't like them?!"
And i realised, i'm going about this all wrong. "A blind man may mistake a snake for a coil of rope, from then on his reasoning may be perfect, but the fact remains - he is still holding a snake" (Gai Eaton). Be in the moment - meet people in that moment - no generalisations of race, no projected self definitions leading to insecurity. Just be.
Such is the teaching of Noah who teaches from Shaykh Nazim. I wonder, will anyone on the other side of the world inspire me like the man who lives in Nether Edge?
No comments:
Post a Comment