#christopher shackle

[ajnabi57]

Spiritual Love: Tragic Love Songs of Punjab

Spiritual Love: Tragic Love Songs of Punjab

Sohni crossing the river to Mahiwal

At  the center of Punjabi cultural identity lay the tradition of what are often called ‘tragic love stories‘. These stories of star-crossed (not to mention caste and creed segregated and gender discriminated) lovers are embedded in the psyche, the art, the faiths and the languages of Punjab in a way that very few other stories or traditions in other parts of…

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[mariotennispowertour]

Bullha, what do I know about who I am? I am not a believer in the mosques, nor do I follow the rites of unbelief.  I am not among the pure or the polluted.  I am not Moses or Pharaoh. I am not in the Vedas or in the scriptures; I am not in drugs or in liquor.  I am not among the drunken reprobates.  I am not in walking, nor am I in sleep. I am not in joy or in sadness, nor am I in pollution or purity.  I am not of water or of earth, nor am I fire or air. I am neither an Arab nor from Lahore, nor an Indian from the city of Nagaur.  I am not a Hindu, nor a Turk from Peshawar.  Nor do I live in Nadaun. I have not discovered the secret of religion, nor am I born of Adam and Eve.  I have not given myself a name, nor am I found in sitting or moving about. I know myself to be first and last, I do not recognize anyone else.  No one is wiser than I am.  Bullha, who is the lord standing here?

Bullhe Shah, Sufi Lyrics (translated by Christopher Shackle)