Since September, few of my dear friends and I have embarked on reading a very difficult book by M. S. Irani, called: “God Speaks”. This is NOT a book for light readers as it aims at explaining the theme of creation and its purpose. I think it provides the ultimate combined view of many ideas and theories presented to humanity, including, Islam’s Sufism, Darwinism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and many others. The first seven chapters of this book took us about 3 months to read. To be honest, this is the third time I am reading this book, once in 1999, reading it out loud in a group. A second time in 2019, speed reading it with a larger group in one day. So, this is my third attempt to read alone and discuss with friends with similar interest. Thank goodness, I am not the only one in the group at sea with this book, especially now that we are reading chapter eight.
Chapter eight is about 84 pages and covers a variety of topics including the trio-nature of god: Infinite knowledge, infinite power, and infinite bliss; the three conscious states: wakefulness, dream, and sound sleep; involution and the journey through the various planes of being; and seven more topics that sound as interesting and illuminating. I heard that after the seventh reading, we may only get a small glimpse of M.S. Irani’s profound insight.
You may ask, what does reading “God Speaks” has to do with the title of my note: amaryllis? Well, these sweet thoughts and connections come to me and I can’t help but share them with you. Amaryllis is a type of flower and is distantly related to lilies. According to Interflora (https://www.interflora.co.uk) lilies and amaryllis are like second cousins. I recently purchased a bulb in a wax. It has not bloomed yet. But the photo below, should give you an idea what it will look like. I saw one in bloom at my friend’s house last year and had to wait until this year to purchase one, as they are typically only sold around the holidays.
I also read that a mythological story is attached to Amaryllis. I am guessing every flower has a Greek story attached to it. The red shade amaryllis has a tragic tale. The story is about a fairy named Amaryllis who was in love with a handsome shepherd named Alteo. Amaryllis wanted to let him know just how strongly she felt about him by piercing her heart daily with a golden arrow. (Kind of too dramatic for my taste). Anyway, Alteo was not impressed with this brutal declaration of love; so, on the 30th day, he opened his door to find a red amaryllis flower had grown in her place, from her blood. (Just an interesting story, not really related to my note, LOL)
Amaryllis bulbs take few weeks to bloom, and the flower lasts few more weeks. The bulbs can live for up to 75 years. Which means, I can enjoy the same flower my entire lifetime. I just need to exercise patience, just like reading “God Speaks”. The information is beyond my limited mind. As we continue reading and discussing, some occasional insight, a light bulb, or an "aha" moment may surge and keep me quenched. I will enjoy the feeling for a while, then I will become thirsty for more…That’s when I cut the top of the bulb of my new amaryllis and wait for it to bloom again.
Understanding the theme of creation and its purpose, is not something that will come to me in one or seven readings. It may not even come to me in this lifetime, but like my amaryllis, I will enjoy the flowers when I bloom, and wait patiently when not in bloom. Isn’t this what life is all about?
Ironically, I am writing this note while listening to Snow Prelude No. #3 by Ludovico Einaudi-Dalal. (https://youtu.be/XFKAnMeaoGk) The music speaks to me, validating the calm I am feeling just now. I hope I have transmitted the same calm to you, my dear readers. May you not be rushed to understand, may you be at peace, may you always know, there is a right time for everything.
AMBKJ