Feeling God-Conscious On The TTC

by HijabMan :: posted 28 March 09

“Bring yourself into the present moment by carefully registering your surroundings with all your senses: listen to the sounds of the subway, feel your hard plastic seat and the weight and texture of the fabric of your clothes, become aware of your body and breath. Then, look around at people in your car (subtly of course). Behold their humanity, sense the weight of their responsibilities and disappointment, the lightness of their hopes and dreams, and acknowledge their inherent and unique beauty.” – Examiner

It is 9 pm on a Thursday evening, and I’m sitting on the Danforth line of the Toronto subway system (TTC).

I’ve been riding for a while, just having had Ughyur food with Aadil and Kirstin. The food is what you would expect from a sparsely populated, mountainous region of Northwest China.

Arriving at Bay, Bay Station. Arriving at Bay, Bay Station,” the automated female voice announces.

For the first time in a long time, I look out the window, watching the tunnels and bridges go by. I can’t help but to feel a chill throughout my spine, the seeming timelessness of subways always make me feel Connected. I feel like I’m in an episode of Star Trek, traveling through the space-time continuum. I can’t help but to thank God for this beautiful world. I spend a few moments in prayer, while scanning the faces of Her creation…

We all have places and situations and things we do that help our prayers feel the flood, the flood from the heavens. For me, subways, especially empty ones, are quite conducive to pondering over creation and connected prayers.

If I’m in my house, I like to have a fan on me. Something about feeling the boundaries of my physical being helps me elevate my senses to a bit of a higher plane.

Before you all brand me some sort of goofy Sufi…

Are there things you do surrounding prayer, that help you break out of the ritual and bring in some of that spirit?

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1. HippieMom at 28 March 09 :: #

   I applied the tool to focus from “The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari” and put in Islamic influence in it.

   Morning, 4am. Quiet all around. Smell of lavender oil from the burner. The book suggest a rose but I’ll either take my tasbeeh or the leaf/flower that my son picks from when we go out for a walk. As I said, my zikr, I focus on the detail of the leaf. How God has created this perfectly. How this leaf is part of the universe. How I am part of the universe and that we are all tied together in the fabric of universe. I breathe in the smell of lavender (doing the yoga style breathing.)

   Doing this makes me sensitive to my inner self and my surrounding.

   Hmm, I sound very new age-ish.

2. traceuse at 28 March 09 :: #

   The Singapore zoo, specifically the proboscis monkey section. I like to watch the band of bachelors play and think about what they’re thinking that immediately sets off a mind-space adventure where I contemplate God, time, and our place in this world. Along with the real meaning behind red butts.

   At home it has to be dawn or late nights with low yellow lights, fan or a/c on, after an ice-cold shower and some perfume. When at dawn, a nice walk afterwards. I feel so connected and in Love at those moments.

   And salaam, I’m a new reader, really liking your site!

3. Afrah Raza at 28 March 09 :: #

   LOL about uighur food whats that supposed to mean? where in Toronto can you find it???

4. dina at 28 March 09 :: #

   this is beautiful, i love the fan idea.

   i look around and smile, at everything i see. i feel like that shows my gratitude much more than repeating “alhamdulillah” 33 times (which i still try to say because there is just so much to be grateful for).

   i also linger in sujud/prostration. reflecting on each point of touch between me and the earth and the feeling that the space between my back and the heavens is shrinking. just a few things im trying to think of others. cant wait to hear inspiration from what other people say!

5. Natasha at 29 March 09 :: #

   In the airport, at a connecting stop, I can let go of the need to “do” anything, and just be. Even exploring the convenience shop becomes an adventure. Nowhere to be (until, say 9:57 or whenever we start boarding), nothing to do except kill time, write, walk around, listen to my ipod.

6. HijabMan at 29 March 09 :: #

   Natasha—- haha I can honestly say I’ve never felt that way about an airport pit stop. Thanks for sharing!

   Dina… yeah lingering is always nice

   Afrah, check zabihah.com, had it in Toronto at a place called Silk Road

7. Muhammad at 5 April 09 :: #

   Did you just refer to God as a “Her”?

8. Rabia at 13 April 09 :: #

   When I’m home I pray in whatever room our cat Harold is in. He’s a huge Maine Coon cat with a loud purr, and he seems to purr extra loud when I thrown down the prayer rug. Bonus for me if he lays on the rug.

9. Bilal Jaffery at 16 April 09 :: #

   Awesome site..