ASK Conference 2004
Ever Present Peace

By: Shaykh Fadhlalla Haeri

Is permanent peace an illusion?
Is true contentment ever attainable?
If not then why all this yearning?
And life's search as to where, how and when?

But then look at life on earth
It begins and ends with agitation
When space is invaded and cells divided
And then again subdivided
To fulfil the original promise of birth
And cosmic perfections in regular and unexpected rotations
And then man tills the earth creating dusty agitation
To help new growth, to survive, to interact and to learn
The first steps of inner and outer harmony
Whilst the womb is occupied, invaded and colonised
To be challenged by the meanings and events
Of birth, death, weakness and strength
And to know that whatever appears
Will once again disappear
And to experience that whatever you see, hear
Frivolous or dear, is indeed on it Journey back there.

So where can you find peace, how and When?
Is it within change and the battles of time and space?
Or is it before it all began or after the never ending end?
Or is it that peace and love of Joy are indeed
The distorted responses of agitation and heart
Whereas the cool breeze of peace is ever present
Ever lasting and ever beckoning to all who
Read and follow the illumined perfections of Al Salaam