İstanbul lale festivali (Istanbul tulip festival)

Istanbul tulip festival, İstanbul lale festivali, pentax k10d

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istanbul tulip festival

istanbul tulip festival, istanbul lale festivali , pentax k10d

some old photos from 2008  Istanbul Tulip Festival

tulips :To be ignorant, is to enter the dungeon of God.

yellow-red tulips, istanbul tulip festival, istanbul, istanbul lale festivali 2009, pentax k10d

 

To be ignorant,

is to enter the dungeon of God.

Devotion to wisdom,

is to enter the palace of God.

 

Mevlana

tulips : Some have sacrifice but no wisdom.

Pentax K10D, at Istanbul

 

Man has two important tokens:

The first one; is wisdom

and the second one is sacrifice.

Some have wisdom but no sacrifice.

Some have sacrifice but no wisdom.

How fortunate is he who has both.

 

Mevlana

I will be at your feet forever “tulips”

 

 

red tulips, Istanbul tulip festival 2009, Istanbul lale festivali'nden kırmızı laleler, Istanbul, pentax k10d

“Angels dance only with You, Beloved
and only before You
do I bow in adoration.
You may accept me or not
but I will be at your feet forever.”

Mevlana

Liberate my soul. Fill me with your love

tulips, istanbul tulip festival 2009, istanbul lale festivali 2009, istanbul, pentax k10d

Oh Beloved

Oh Beloved,
take me.
Liberate my soul.
Fill me with your love and
release me from the two worlds.
If I set my heart on anything but you
let fire burn me from inside.

Oh Beloved,
take away what I want.
Take away what I do.
Take away what I need.
Take away everything
that takes me from you.

Mevlana

hold of the Water of Life

colorful tulips, istanbul tulip festival 2009, istanbul, pentax k10d

Love is the Water of Life

Everything other than love for the most beautiful God
though it be sugar-eating.

What is agony of the spirit?

To advance toward death without seizing

hold of the Water of Life.

From
Masnawi I 3686-87

Now it is time for silence.

pink tulips, istanbul tulip festival 2009, istanbul lale festivali 2009, pentax k10d

Who is at my door?

He said, “Who is at my door?”
I said, “Your humble servant.”
He said, “What business do you have?”
I said, “To greet you, 0 Lord.”

He said, “How long will you journey on?”
I said, “Until you stop me.”
He said, “How long will you boil in the fire?”
I said, “Until I am pure.

“This is my oath of love.
For the sake of love
I gave up wealth and position.”

He said, “You have pleaded your case
but you have no witness.”
I said, “My tears are my witness;
the pallor of my face is my proof.’

He said, “Your witness has no credibility;
your eyes are too wet to see.”
I said, “By the splendor of your justice
my eyes are clear and faultless.”

He said, “What do you seek?”
I said, “To have you as my constant friend.”
He said, “What do you want from me?”
I said, “Your abundant grace.”

He said, “Who was your companion on the ‘ourney?
I said, “The thought of you, 0 King.”
He said, “What called you here?”
I said, “The fragrance of your wine.”

He said, “What brings you the most fulfillment?”
I said, “The company of the Emperor.”
He said, “What do you find there?”
I said, “A hundred miracles.”

He said, “Why is the palace deserted?”
I said, “They all fear the thief.”
He said, “Who is the thief?”
I said, “The one who keeps me from -you.

He said, “Where is there safety?”
I said, “In service and renunciation.”
He said, “What is there to renounce?”
I said, “The hope of salvation.”

He said, “Where is there calamity?”
I said, “In the presence of your love.”
He said, “How do you benefit from this life?”
I said, “By keeping true to myself

Now it is time for silence.
If I told you about His true essence
You would fly from your self and be gone,
and neither door nor roof could hold you back!

From:  Rumi – In the Arms of the Beloved, Jonathan Star,  Jeremy P. Tarcher/Putnam, New York 1997

sun catcher

daylight portrait, istanbul, pentax k10d

yellow tulips, Istanbul tulip festival 2009

yellow tulips, Istanbul Tulip Festival 2009, sarı laleler, istanbul lale festivali 2009, istanbul, pentax k10d