Nur Ali Elahi

Only Ali Elahi (or Ostad Elahi also Nūr ' Alī Ilahi, Nour Ali Elahi, Persian: نورعلی الهی - استاد الهی; * September 11, 1895, † 19 October 1974) was a spiritual thinker, musician, philosopher and judge who devoted his life to exploring the metaphysical dimension of human beings.

7.1 Selected works of Nur Ali Elahi 7.1.1 English
7.1.2 French
7.1.3 German
7.1.4 Italian
7.1.5 Persian

7.2.1 English
7.2.2 French
7.2.3 German
7.2.4 Italian
7.2.5 Polish
7.2.6 Greek

The Early Years

Elahi was born in Dscheyhunabad, a small Kurdish village near Kermanshah. His father, Hadj Nematollah Mokri Dscheyhunabadi (1871-1920) was a mystic and poet, as well as the spiritual leader of the Ahl -e Haqq, a mystical order; of the people of his time, he was venerated as a saint. From early childhood Elahi led under the supervision of his father, an ascetic, reclusive life in which mysticism, ethics and music played a central role and which was characterized by strict discipline. But he was not only trained in the fundamentals of religion and spirituality, but also received a solid classical education and training. Already in his youth, in which he devoted to the study and contemplation of his time, he created the basis for his philosophical and spiritual considerations.

When his father died in 1920, Elahi came to the conclusion that the period of classical spirituality of the past belonged and that the search for spiritual development could not take place in the secluded tranquility of ascetic hermitage longer. Instead, he came to the conclusion that spirituality should be practiced in the context of an active, creative life within society. For this reason, he left at the age of 24 years, his contemplative life behind in order to undergo its ethical principles of testing in the crucible of society. He moved to the capital, Tehran, cut off his long hair and beard, exchanged his traditional dress against a suit western style and entered the civil service.

Legal career

Some years later, when the country profound constitutional reforms was subjected to included, among other things, the introduction of an entirely new legal system to Elahi enrolled at the newly established Graduate School of Law of the country as a student. The study of the law, which was planned for three years, he finished in just six months with honors, so he left the university in 1934 with a degree.

Then hit Elahi a legal career that would span a period of 23 years. His first assignments took him as a magistrate after Larestan in the province of Fars. This was followed by appeals to the prosecutor and judge at various locations around the country (including Qom, Kermanshah, and Tehran Dschahrom ) until he successfully finished his career as a judge and then President of the Assize Court of the province of Mazandaran.

Parallel to his professional activity devoted his time Elahi studies and researches in the field of philosophy, theology and mysticism. In this crucial period, which focused on the exploration of metaphysics, he laid the foundation for his later work.

Ideas

Elahi's philosophy is concerned with questions about the origin and nature of man, to his role in the world and the question of its responsibilities and its ultimate determination. In his work Elahi assumes that man is a dual - is nature and it emphasizes the importance of the metaphysical dimension of human existence - both material and spiritual. It assumes that self-knowledge requires more than long reflection and that spirituality, like any other science also, necessarily must be rooted in comprehensible and verifiable experience. Elahi's written and oral teachings are thus not merely the result of philosophical discussions, but an expression of rich personal experience in the field of spirituality.

Writings

His retirement from the civil service Elahi began to make his system of thought to gradually accessible to others. In this period he wrote two scientific works in the field of religious studies and the authentic spirituality and a detailed review of one of his father's works. The practical aspect of his thinking was usually conveyed in the form of oral instructions, in the presence of close friends and acquaintances who sought his advice and guidance. These oral traditions were recorded from the audience, transcribed and eventually published in two volumes. Elahi is also author of several manuscripts which are previously unreleased, including revelation of truths ( Kashf ol - Haqayeq, 1924), which describes the origin of the universe and man's role in it.

In 1963, Elahi published his first book, proof of the truth ( Borhan ol - Haqq ), a theological work, which is the first reliable researched documentation of the Ahl -e Haqq. It deals with the historical development of the community, whose basic principles and teachings and the original rites which had hitherto been kept secret all.

Another treatise, the commentary on the book of the Kings of Truth ( Haqq ol Haschieh bar Haqayeq, 1966), contains definitions of terms and definitions that are used in his father Hadj Nematollah epic work. The work deals with the history of religions, are details of biography and rank of prophets, saints and eminent personalities of the human history and looks at the concept of the manifestations of the Divine Essence.

His third work, finally, is a philosophical treatise, published in 1969: Knowing the Spirit ( Ruh - ol Marefat ). Herein is the author deals with the existence and immortality of the soul and its gradual process of maturation and perfection.

Music

For Elahi, music was primarily a means to practice in contemplation and prayer. He showed no interest in public life performances of his art or professional Tonmitschnitten. His music is rooted in a tradition ( Ahl -e Haqq ), in the sacred texts were rhythmically chanted and sung in the context of prayer meetings. These prayers or invocations were accompanied by instruments such as the tanbur ( an ancient long-necked lute), the nay ( flute ) and the daf ( a frame drum ).

The age of six Elahi started with the game of tanbur and only three years later, at the age of nine years, he was a renowned tanbur master of his time. He has made a significant contribution to revive this traditional art, by composing over 100 pieces of music which served as the basis for his improvisations. His musical virtuosity and its complex technique, all five fingers of both hands einbezog for the first time, as well as his physical modifications to the instrument itself ( the doubling of the higher string, which is a much more expressive game allowed ) earned him the reputation as a true innovator of this art form.

Since the commemoration of his centennial birthday in 1995, nine CDs of his musical oeuvre have appeared. The majority of the original recordings dating back to the 60s and 70s, where they made these simple mono recordings in the course of informal meetings in the company of family and friends who were then digitized later with modern means.

One of the characteristic aspects of Elahi's music is the art of improvisation. It manages to weave pieces with different pace and rhythm with each other, without ever losing the big picture from the eye. An example of this are the improvisations in BABA Jalili on the CD Destinations ( Le Chant du Monde, 2008). In addition, Elahi Tanburspiel was characterized by highly complex ornaments and an unusual density of notes - he could play up to 12 notes in one second. This play shows, among other things in the suite Sahari on the CD The Celestial Music of Ostad Elahi (Le Chant du Monde, 2004), a tune that was played with the onset of dusk, to awaken the dervishes for prayer.

Elahi was the totality of his repertoire to his son, Dr. Shahrokh Elahi, who had to record some of his father's compositions on video, to allow insight into Elahi's style and technique.

Intellectual heritage

In the second half of his life Elahi was surrounded by people who came from different cultures, traditions and countries. Each had a different interest to see him: The atheist came to debate with him; the musician sought advice for his technique; the scholar wanted his vision of a particular research subject to expand; the seeker yearned for spiritual guidance. He said all are welcome and took the time to respond to their concerns and needs.

Elahi died on 19 October 1974 at the age of 79 years. In Hashtgerd, a small town not far from Tehran, a memorial was erected each year is visited by thousands of people.

After leaving his son, MD, Professor Bahram Elahi stepped ( born 1931), his spiritual heritage. Formerly doctor in the field of pediatric surgery and dean of the medical faculty, Bahram Elahi has authored several books that explain his father's ideas and deepen.

On the origin of the title " Ostad Elahi "

As a child was only Ali, who was given the birth name " Fatollah ", called by his nickname " Kutschak Ali ". At the age of 11 years when he was together with his father, especially in ascetic seclusion, he experienced a profound spiritual conversion, whereupon the child's name in " Seyyed Ali Only " has been changed. Later, this was 1941, when he held the office of the Attorney General in Khorramabad, he changed his family name officially to " Elahi ".

After his death in 1974 his sister Malek January Nemati had the task to continue his spiritual heritage, and over a period of 20 years she was the mediator of his teachings. As was the custom of that time, in January Malek said from then on out of deference to the older brother always opposite of " Hazrat -e Ostad ".

As the organizing committee that organized the commemoration of his 100th birthday and planned the corresponding festivities in Paris, London, New York, Los Angeles and Tehran, was faced with the difficulty of the title " Hazrat -e Ostad " into western languages translate. A literal translation of its title (eg, His Highness or Majesty or Master Only Ali Elahi ) would have stood in sharp contrast to his humility and modesty, for which he was well known. The committee then decided, with the permission of the family, the title of Ostad Elahi to choose to give in this way the respect expression, which was his sister at heart, and to signal the same time that he took the rank of a master musician. This meant that most of the books and articles that have been written about him since 1995, the title " Ostad Elahi " used. Today, he is widely known both under his own name as well as his honorary title.

Centenary

Elahi devoted most of his life and work in search of self-knowledge and the spiritual dimension of man. In 1995, a symposium was held on the occasion of his 100th birthday, which took place in several cities ( London, Paris, Los Angeles and New York) and was attended by experts from science, law, literature and music. Theme of the symposium was " Le Spirituel: Pluralité et Unité " ( The Spiritual: Plurality and Unity ). There were presentations and panel discussions on various topics held, including the unity of religions ', Ethics and Law ',' Science and Spirituality 'and the' importance of a contemporary mysticism.

Under the auspices of UNESCO and the French Ministry of Culture and with the support of the Academy of Paris, an exhibition entitled " Life and Work of Ostad Elahi " was initiated. It took place in the Chapelle de la Sorbonne in Paris and lasted 6 September to 31 October 1995 exhibition was divided into several sections, which were related to three of its stages of life: Dawn ( 1895-1920 ), Morning Sun ( 1920 -. 1957) and Highest sun ( 1957-1974 ). For each time period specially selected texts, photographs, autobiographical stories and personal objects were shown, which enabled an insight into the person Elahi and the different periods of life.

As part of the exhibition, visitors could listen to the self-composed and played by Elahi melodies in a specially equipped music room. It was the first time that this music, which was so far only in the context of prayer meetings, was made available to the public. A collection of traditional instruments (including tanbur, Setar and Daf ), who had heard Elahi or his father, was also part of the performance in the music room.

Bibliography

Selected works of Nur Ali Elahi

English

Knowing the Spirit. Translated and with an introduction by James Winston Morris. ( Albany: SUNY Press, 2007 ) ISBN 978-0-7914-6858-6
Words of Faith: Prayers of Ostad Elahi. (Paris: Robert Laffont, 1995) ISBN 978-2-911331-02-2
100 Maxims of Guidance. Introduction by Bahram Elahi. (Paris: Robert Laffont, 1995) ISBN 978-2-911331-00-8

Connaissance de l' âme. Translated by Clara Deville. (L' Harmattan, 2001) ISBN 2-7475-0452-2
100 Maxime de Guidance. (Robert Laffont, 1995) ISBN 978-2-221-08206-5
Confidences Prières d' Ostad. (Robert Laffont, 1995) ISBN 978-2-221-08205-8

German

Italian

Pensieri di Luce. ( Mondadori, 2000) ISBN 978-88-04-44810-5

Persian

Bargozideh ( Persian: برگزیده ) [ Words of Truth: A selection of quotes from Ostad Elahi ] ( Nashr -e Panj, 2009)
Borhan -ol Haqq ( Persian: برهان الحق ) [ proof of the truth ] 1st edition ( Tahuri, 1963)
Haschieh bar Haqq ol Haqayeq ( Persian: حق الحقايق ) [ Commentary on the Book of the Kings of Truth ( Shahnama -ye Haqiqat )] ( Husseini, 1967)
Marefat ol Ruh ( Persian: معرفت الروح ) [ Knowing the Spirit ] 1st edition ( Tahuri, 1968)
Asar -ol Haqq ( Persian: آثارالحق ) [ Words of Truth ] ed. B. Elahi, Volume 1 ( Jeyhoun, 1978); current, fifth completely revised edition ( Nashr -e Panj, 2007)
Asar -ol Haqq ( Persian: آثارالحق ) [ Words of Truth ] ed. B. Elahi, Volume 2 ( Jeyhoun, 1991)

Selected works on Elahi's life and ideas

English

Shifting Perspectives: Changing Your Outlook for Positive Results. By Olivier Brizevac and Emmanuel Comte, translated by Benjamin Ivry. (New York: Paraview, 2007) ISBN 978-0-9764986-5-0
Ostad Elahi on Spirituality in Everyday Life. By James W. Morris. ( Public Lecture presented at University of California at Santa Barbara, Department of Religion, May 2, 2007)
Overcoming Jealousy. By Beatrice Guernier and Agnes Rousseau, translated by Benjamin Ivry. (New York, Paraview, 2006) ISBN 978-0-9764986-4-3
The Path of Perfection. By Bahram Elahi. (New York: Paraview, 2005) ISBN 978-0-9764986-0-5
Orientations: Islamic Thought in a World Civilization. By James Winston Morris. ( Archetype, 2004) ISBN 978-1-901383-10-2
Medicine of the Soul: Foundations of Natural Spirituality. By Bahram Elahi. (New York: Cornwall Books, 2001 ) ISBN 978-0-8453-4875-8
Spirituality is a Science: Foundations of Natural Spirituality. By Bahram Elahi. (New York: Cornwall Books, 1999 ) ISBN 978-0-8453-4868-0
Foundations of Natural Spirituality: A Scientific Approach to the Nature of the Spiritual Self. By Bahram Elahi (Dorset: Element Books, 1998 ) ISBN 978-1-86204-238-4
Symposium on Spirituality Celebrates the Centennial of Ostad Elahi. In: UNESCO News. Vol 2, no. 6, ( November 10, 1995 )
The Life and Work of Ostad Elahi. Directed by Marion Sarraut. (A video published on the occasion of his centenary in 1995)
" Unicity ". A Collection of Photographs of Ostad Elahi 1895-1974. Robert Laffont, Paris 1995, ISBN 2-911331-01-5 ( ISBN formally wrong ). ( Centennial Commemoration Volume)
The Way of Light. By Bahram Elahi. (Dorset: Element Books, 1993 ) ISBN 978-1-85230-381-5

Vérité et jugement: Ostad Elahi, juge et philosophe iranien ( 1895-1974 ). S. Marin. Thèse de l' Université de Paris -X, Nanterre (2006)
Ostad Elahi et les droits de l' homme: Ethique et modernity, in Le Code civil et les droits de l' homme, textes et réunis publiés par Jean -Luc Chabot, Philippe Didier, Jerome Ferrand, (Paris: L' Harmattan, 2005 ), pp. 418-434, ISBN 2-7475-8893-9
Une philosophie du droit en Islam? Un exemple iranien, Journées de la recherche en théorie et politiques et philosophie juridiques, p 23
La Voie de la Perfection. Bahram Elahi. (Paris: Albin Michel, 2002) ISBN 978-2-226-13260-4.
L' éveil de l' intelligence spiritual et les dimensions du processus éthique selon Ostad. By James Winston Morris. Dieu at- il sa place dans l' éthique? , Ed E. During, 86-99. (Paris: L' Harmattan, 2002) ISBN 2-7475-2168-0
L' âme des sons. Jean During. ( Gordes: Editions du Relié, 2001) ISBN 978-2-909698-71-7
Le rôle de la traduction et de l' interprétation du droit en Iran dans la première Moitié you XXème siècle: l' exemple d' Ostad Elahi (1895-1974), p Marin and F. Ameli. Droit et Cultures, Revue d' anthropologie et d' histoire trimestrielle, publiée avec le concours du CNRS, 44/2001, pp. 183-201.
Médecine de l' âme. Bahram Elahi. (Paris: Editions Dervy, 2000) ISBN 978-2-84454-023-2
La spiritualité est une science. Bahram Elahi. (Paris: Editions Dervy, 1997) ISBN 978-2-85076-927-6
Fondements de la Spiritualité Naturelle. Bahram Elahi. (Paris: Editions Dervy, 1996) ISBN 978-2-85076-860-6
Le Spirituel: Pluralité et Unité [ The Spirituality: Plurality and Unity ] ( Presses de l' Université de Paris -Sorbonne, 1996)
La Pensee d' Ostad Elahi. In Le Spirituel: Pluralité et Unité, Actes du Symposium ( Cahiers d'Anthropologie Religieuse, ed M. Meslin, volume 5 ), pp. 137-147 ( Presses de l' Univesité, 1996)
De l' unité des religions et Conclusion. Andrei Chouraqui. Cahiers d'Anthropologie Religieuse, n ° 5, under the direction of Professor Michel Meslin, University of Paris -Sorbonne Press, 1996, pp. 25-33, 187-188.
Ethique et droit. F. Terre, Symposium in French Supreme Court ( Sept. 1995 ), in Cahiers d'Anthropologie Religieuse, n ° 5, under the direction of Professor Michel Meslin, University of Paris -Sorbonne Press, 1996, pp. 179-186.
Musique Et Dans Les Traditions Mystique de L' Iran. By Jean During. (Paris: Institut français de recherche en Iran, 1989) ISBN 978-90-6831-191-4
Le Chemin de la Lumière. Bahram Elahi. ( Parsi: Albin Michel, 1985) ISBN 978-2-226-02467-1

German

Spirituality is a science. Bahram Elahi. ( Vienna: Ibera Verlag, 2001) ISBN 978-3-85052-112-3
Basics Natural Spirituality. Bahram Elahi. ( Vienna: Ibera Verlag, 1999 ) ISBN 978-3-900436-85-8
Way and completion. Bahram Elahi. ( München: Heyne, 1995) ISBN 978-3-453-08744-6

Italian

La Via della Perfezione. Bahram Elahi. ( Astrolabio Ubaldini, 2004) ISBN 978-88-340-0699-3

Polish

Droga do doskonałości. Bahram Elahi. ( Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Nowe Polskie, 1991) ISBN 978-83-85135-07-4

Greek

Ή ὁδὸς τῆς τελειότητας. Bahram Elahi. ( Εκάτη, 1994)

Discography

The Celestial Music of Ostad Elahi (1996 ), CMT 774 1026 Le Chant du Monde (Originally published in 1995 as The Celestial Music of Ostad Elahi Vol I)
Dialogue with the Beloved (1997), CMT 774 1100 Le Chant du Monde (Originally published in 1995 as The Celestial Music of Ostad Elahi Vol II)
Paths of Divine Love (1997 ) CMT 774 1083 Le Chant du Monde
Celestial Harmonies (1999), CMT 774 1122 Le Chant du Monde
A Spiritual Epic ( 1998), CMT 774 1432 Le Chant du Monde
Mystical Orison (2000), CMT 774 1137 Le Chant du Monde
Cascade (2002), CMT 774 1150 Le Chant du Monde
Celestial Danses (2005), CMT 774 1327 Le Chant du Monde
Destinations ( 2008), CMT 774 1626 Le Chant du Monde
Music for the Mind II (2010), Advanced Brain Technologies and Nour Foundation

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