Karbala is Myself. I stand in the desert of Karbala of my own self. I am thirsting for Truth. I am attacked by the enemies of my heart and my soul. I am attacked by greed – the greed of never being satisfied because I do not see the Giver. By superficiality – which makes me see only the surface of things because I have not undertaken the effort to go deep. By envy of others – for not seeing the Source and the Lord within myself and others. By anger – imagining that I am a lord who has the right to be angry with others, or angry at the world, or angry with God. By righteousness – in the illusion that ‘I know’ and that my knowing is better than others’ knowing. By pride – in thinking that what belongs only to You is mine, and wanting to be praised for what was never mine. By heedlessness – by not remembering every moment my true condition, that I am always and only Your servant and a slave. By ungratefulness – not being aware of Your constant giving, and turning away from the inner spring of gratitude that You make flow in my heart. By excessiveness – not taking the reins of guidance to moderate my earthly self. By despondency – not waking up from the dream of the world and therefore feeling its burden and its sleep inducing drink. By despair – not trusting in the Ever-present and Ever-near. And the Yazid of all enemies – ignorance and unawareness of You, not seeing You in every movement of myself and in every moment of creation. The dust clouds of the world surround me, making me see permanence where there is none, making me imagine value where there is none, making me seek refuge where there is none. My faith is my only armor. … continued here (link in bio): http://farihafatima.com/2013/11/07/karbala-is-myself/ – Fariha Fatima (Muharram 2013)