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Today, July 9th, marks the first full day of Ramadan in 2013. Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic calendar and was established as a Holy Month for Muslims after the Quran was revealed to Muhammad in 610 CE.
Thomas Merton and Abdul Aziz, a Pakistani scholar of Sufism, had correspondence from 1960-68 about Christian and Islamic mysticism. They were both spiritual men from different faith traditions who adopted the practice of praying for one another at dawn of each day. Abdul Aziz repeatedly told Merton that he prayed for him during the month of Ramadan. Similarly, Merton prayed for Abdul Aziz during Pentecost.
During Ramadan Muslims fast from dawn until sunset. In what ways do you or can you act in self-sacrifice as a form of prayer on a daily basis?
"God is preparing you to receive the nectar of Ananda. If you get it without the proper preparation to stand it, your mind and body will be shattered to pieces. So He is gradually preparing you and when He knows that you are ready to receive Him, the He comes to you in all His glory."
-Swami Ramdas
*Griffith, Sidney H. "As One Spiritual Man to Another." Merton & Sufism. N.p.: Fons Vitae, 2005. 101-29. Print.
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