Ali Elahi only

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Ostad Elahi

Nur Ali Elahi (with the scholarly title Ostād Elahi ; also Nūr 'Alī Ilāhī, Nour Ali Elahi, Persian استاد نور على الهى, DMG Ostād Nūr 'Alī Elāhī ; * September 11, 1895 in Jeyhunabad; † October 19, 1974 ) was an Iranian spiritual thinker, musician, philosopher and judge of Kurdish descent who devoted his life to exploring the metaphysical dimension of man.

The early years

Elahi was born in Jeyhunabad ( Persian جيحون آباد, DMG Ǧaiḥūn-ābād ), a small Kurdish village near Kermanshah . His father, Haj Nematollah Mokri Dscheyhunabadi (1871–1920), was a mystic and poet as well as the spiritual leader of the Ahl-e Haqq , a mystical order; he was venerated as a saint by the people of his time. From early childhood, Elahi led an ascetic , withdrawn life under the supervision of his father , in which mysticism , ethics and music played a central role and which was characterized by strict discipline. He was not only trained in the basics of religion and spirituality , but also received a solid classical upbringing and training. Even in his youth, when he devoted his time to study and contemplation , he created the basis for his philosophical and spiritual reflections.

When his father died in 1920, Elahi came to the conclusion that the time of classical spirituality was a thing of the past and that the search for spiritual development could no longer take place in the secluded tranquility of an ascetic hermitage. Instead, he came to believe that spirituality must be practiced in the context of an active, creative life in the midst of society. For this reason, at the age of 24, he left his contemplative life behind to put his ethical principles to the test in the melting pot of society. He moved to the capital Tehran, cut off his long hair and beard, swapped his traditional robes for a Western-style suit and entered the civil service.

Legal career

A few years later, when the country underwent far-reaching constitutional reforms, including the introduction of a completely new legal system, Elahi enrolled as a student at the country's newly founded law school. He finished his law studies , which was planned to last three years, in just six months with distinction, so that he graduated from the university in 1934.

Elahi then embarked on a legal career that would span a period of 23 years. His first assignments took him to Larestan in the province of Fars as a magistrate . This was followed by appointments to the public prosecutor's office and judiciary in various parts of the country (including Qom , Kermanshah , Jahrom and Tehran ) until he finally successfully ended his career as a judge and then president of the jury of the Mazandaran province .

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

ideas

Elahi's philosophy deals with questions about the origin and nature of man, his role in the world and the question of his responsibilities and his ultimate destiny. In his work, Elahi assumes that the human being is a dual - both material and spiritual - being and he emphasizes the great importance of the metaphysical dimension of being human. He assumes that self-knowledge requires more than extensive reflection and that spirituality, like any other science, must necessarily be rooted in comprehensible and verifiable experiences. Elahi's written and oral teachings are thus not just the result of philosophical discussions, but the expression of rich personal experiences in the field of spirituality.

Fonts

With his resignation from the civil service, Elahi began to gradually make his system of thought accessible to others. During this period he wrote two scientific works in the field of religious studies and authentic spirituality, as well as a detailed commentary on one of his father's works. The practical aspect of his thinking was mostly conveyed in the form of oral instruction, in the presence of close friends and acquaintances who sought his advice and guidance. These oral traditions were noted down, transcribed and finally published in two volumes by the audience. Elahi is also the author of several unpublished manuscripts, including Unveiling the Truths (Kaschf ol-Haqayeq, 1924), which describes the origin of the universe and the role of man in it.

In 1963, Elahi published his first book, Proof of Truth (Borhan ol-Haqq), a theological work that was the first reliably researched documentation of the Ahl-e Haqq. It deals with the historical formation of the community, its basic principles and teachings and the original rites, all of which had been kept secret until then.

Another treatise, the Commentary on the Book of Kings of Truth (Haschieh bar Haqq-ol Haqayeq, 1966), contains explanations of terms and definitions used in the epic work of his father, Hadj Nematollah. The work deals with the history of religions, gives details of the biography and rank of prophets, saints and important personalities in human history and goes into the concept of the manifestations of the Divine Essence.

Finally, his third work is a philosophical treatise that appeared in 1969: Knowledge of the Soul (Marefat ol-Ruh). Here the author deals with the existence and immortality of the soul as well as its gradual process of maturation and perfection.

music

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

Elahi began playing the tanbur at the age of six and only three years later, at the age of nine, he was a recognized tanbur master of his time. He made a crucial contribution to reviving this traditional art by composing over 100 pieces of music that served as the basis for his improvisations. His musical virtuosity and complex playing technique, which for the first time included all five fingers of both hands, as well as his physical modifications to the instrument itself (the doubling of the higher string, which enabled a far more expressive game) earned him the reputation of a true innovator of this art form .

Since the commemoration of his centenary in 1995, twelve CDs of his musical oeuvre have been released. The majority of the original recordings date back to the 60s and 70s, when these simple mono recordings were made in the course of informal meetings with family and friends, which were later digitized using modern means.

One of the defining aspects of Elahi's music is the art of improvisation. He succeeds in interweaving pieces with different tempo and rhythm without ever losing sight of the big picture. An example of this are the improvisations in Bâbâ Jalili on the Destinations CD ( Le Chant du Monde , 2008). In addition, Elahi's tanbour game was characterized by extremely complex decorations and an unusual density of notes - he could play up to 12 notes in one second. This way of playing can be seen in the Sahari Suite on the CD The Celestial Music of Ostad Elahi (Le Chant du Monde, 2004), a melody that was played at dawn to wake the dervishes to prayer.

Elahi passed the entirety of his repertoire on to his son, Dr. Shahrokh Elahi, who had some of his father's compositions recorded on video to provide insight into Elahi's style and technique.

Spiritual inheritance

In the second half of his life, Elahi was surrounded by people from different cultures, traditions and countries. Everyone had a different interest in seeing him: the atheist came to debate with him; the musician sought advice on his playing technique; the scholar wished to broaden his view of a particular subject of research; the seeker longed for spiritual guidance. He welcomed them all and took the time to address their concerns and needs.

Elahi died on October 19, 1974 at the age of 79. In Haschtgerd, a small town not far from Tehran , a memorial was built that is visited by many thousands of people year after year.

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

About the creation of the title "Ostad Elahi"

As a child, Nur Ali, who was given the birth name “Fatollah”, was called by his nickname “Kutschak Ali” (lit. KLein-Ali ). At the age of 11, when he was in ascetic retreat with his father, he experienced a profound spiritual change, whereupon the child's name was changed to "Seyyed Nur Ali". Later, in 1941, when he was the attorney general in Khorramabad, he officially changed his family name to "Elahi".

After his death in 1974, his sister Malek Jan Nemati was given the task of carrying on his spiritual legacy and for a period of 20 years she was the mediator of his teachings. As was the custom at that time, from then on Malek Jan always spoke of "Hazrat-e Ostad" out of deference to his older brother.

When the organizing committee that organized the commemoration on the occasion of his 100th birthday and planned the corresponding festivities in Paris, London, New York, Los Angeles and Tehran, one faced the difficulty of getting the title "Hazrat-e Ostad" in the western languages translate. A literal translation of his title (e.g. His Highness or Majesty or Master Nur Ali Elahi) would have been in sharp contrast to his humility and modesty, for which he was well known. The committee then decided, with the permission of the family, to choose the title Ostad Elahi as a way of expressing the respect that was dear to his sister and at the same time signaling that he held the rank of a masterful musician. As a result, most of the books and articles written about him since 1995 used the title "Ostad Elahi". Nowadays he is widely known both by his name and his honorary title.

Centenary

Elahi dedicated most of his life and work to the search for self-knowledge and the spiritual dimension of the human being. In 1995, on the occasion of his 100th birthday, a symposium was held in several cities (Paris, London, Los Angeles and New York) and attended by experts from science, law, literature and music. The theme of the symposium was “Le Spirituel: Pluralité et Unité” (The Spiritual: Plurality and Unity). Lectures and panel discussions took place on a wide variety of topics, including the 'unity of religions', 'ethics and law', 'science and spirituality' and the 'importance of contemporary mysticism'.

Under the auspices of UNESCO and the French Ministry of Culture, and with the support of the Paris Academy, an exhibition entitled “The Life and Work of Ostad Elahi” was initiated. It took place in the Chapelle de la Sorbonne in Paris and lasted from September 6th to October 31st, 1995. The exhibition was divided into several sections that related to three phases of his life: twilight (1895–1920), morning sun (1920– 1957) and highest position of the sun (1957–1974). For each period, specially selected texts, photographs, autobiographical stories and personal objects were shown, which enabled an insight into the person of Elahi and the different periods of life.

As part of the exhibition, the visitor could listen to the melodies composed and played by Elahi himself in a specially equipped music room. It was the first time that this music, which had previously only been played in prayer meetings, was made available to the public. A collection of traditional instruments (including tanbur, setar and daf) that Elahi or his father had heard was also part of the performance in the music room.

Exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

From August 5, 2014 to January 11, 2015, an exhibition was held under the auspices of UNESCO in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. The exhibition was entitled "The Sacred Lute - The Art of Ostad Elahi" and was mainly dedicated to the music of Ostad Elahi and the presentation of his main instrument, the tanbur. The exhibition featured a tanbur over 120 years old that belonged to Hadj Nematollah, Ostad Elahi's father and later himself, but also some other musical instruments that Ostad Elahi played masterfully, such as Setar , Tar , Çöğür , Nay and Kamantsche . Some of Ostad Elahi's personal belongings, including his judge's robe and selected manuscripts, were also on display. The exhibits were partly on loan from the Elahi family, partly from the Musée de la Musique in Paris and partly instruments from the collections of the Metropolitan Museum itself. A CD of the same name was published on the occasion of the exhibition in New York: The Sacred Lute - The Art of Ostad Elahi , as a co-production with the Metropolitan Museum.

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) (2 CDs), CMT 774 1626 Le Chant du Monde
  • Music for the Mind II (2010), Advanced Brain Technologies and Nour Foundation
  • The Sacred Lute: the Art of Ostad Elahi (2 CDs), CMT 874 2259 Le Chant du Monde & The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  • Awakening (2014), CMT 774 2367 Le Chant du Monde
  • Presence (2014), CMT 774 2300 Le Chant du Monde
  • Résilience (2019), Le Chant du Monde - Harmonia Mundi / The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  • Mon Commencement et Ma Fin (2019), Le Chant du Monde - Harmonia Mundi / The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Works

English

  • Knowing the Spirit. Translated by James Winston Morris. State University of New York Press, Albany 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: Ed. And transl. By Bahram Elahi. Robert Laffont, Paris 1995, ISBN 978-2-911331-00-8 .

French

German

Italian

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 Truth] 1st Edition (Tahuri, 1963)
  • Haschieh bar Haqq-ol Haqayeq ( Persian حق الحقايق) [Commentary on the Book of the Kings of Truth (Schahname-ye Haqiqat)] (Husseini, 1967)
  • Marefat ol-Ruh ( Persian معرفت الروح) [Knowledge of the soul] 1st edition (Tahuri, 1968)
  • Asar-ol Haqq ( Persian آثارالحق) [Words of Truth] Ed. B. Elahi, Volume 1 (Jeyhoun, 1978); current, 5th completely revised edition (Nashr-e Panj, 2007)
  • Asar-ol Haqq ( Persian آثارالحق) [Words of Truth] Ed. B. Elahi, Volume 2 (Jeyhoun, 1991)

literature

English

  • Olivier Brizevac, Emmanuel Comte: Shifting Perspectives: Changing Your Outlook for Positive Results. Translated by Benjamin Ivry. Paraview, New York 2007, ISBN 978-0-9764986-5-0 .
  • James W. Morris: Ostad Elahi on Spirituality in Everyday Life (= Public Lecture presented at University of California at Santa Barbara, Department of Religion, May 2, 2007 ).
  • Beatrice Guernier, Agnes Rousseau: Overcoming Jealousy. Translated by Benjamin Ivry. Paraview, New York 2006, ISBN 978-0-9764986-4-3 .
  • Bahram Elahi: The Path of Perfection. Paraview, New York 2005, ISBN 978-0-9764986-0-5 .
  • James Winston Morris: Orientations: Islamic Thought in a World Civilization. Archetype, 2004, ISBN 978-1-901383-10-2 .
  • Jean During : The Spirit of Sounds. The Unique Art of Ostad Elahi. Cornwall Books, New York 2003, ISBN 978-0-8453-4884-0 .
  • Bahram Elahi: Medicine of the Soul: Foundations of Natural Spirituality. Cornwall Books, New York 2001, ISBN 978-0-8453-4875-8 .
  • Bahram Elahi: Spirituality is a Science: Foundations of Natural Spirituality. Cornwall Books, New York 1999, ISBN 978-0-8453-4868-0 .
  • Bahram Elahi: Foundations of Natural Spirituality: A Scientific Approach to the Nature of the Spiritual Self. Element Books, Dorset 1998, ISBN 978-1-86204-238-4 .
  • Symposium on Spirituality Celebrates the Centennial of Ostad Elahi. In: UNESCO News. Volume 2, No. 6, (November 10, 1995).
  • Marion Sarraut (Director): The Life and Work of Ostad Elahi. "A video published on the occasion of his centenary in 1995".
  • Robert Laffont: "Unicity". A Collection of Photographs of Ostad Elahi 1895–1974 Paris 1995, ISBN 2-911331-01-5 . (Centennial Commemoration Volume)
  • Bahram Elahi: The Way of Light. Element Books, Dorset 1993, ISBN 978-1-85230-381-5 .

French

  • Fondamentaux du perfectionnement spirituel; le guide pratique . Bahram Elahi. (Paris: Dervy, 2019) ISBN 979-10-242-0412-3
  • 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 modernité , in Le Code civil et les droits de l'homme, textes réunis et publiés par Jean-Luc Chabot, Philippe Didier, Jérôme 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 philosophie juridiques et politiques, p. 23
  • fr: La Voie de la Perfection . Bahram Elahi. (Paris: Albin Michel, 2018) ISBN 978-2-226-40050-5
  • L'éveil de l'intelligence spirituelle et les dimensions du processus éthique selon Ostad Elahi . 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 du XXème siècle: l'exemple d'Ostad Elahi (1895–1974) , S. Marin and F. Ameli. Droit et Cultures, Revue trimestrielle d'anthropologie et d'histoire, 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 Spiritual: Plurality and Unity] (Presses de l'Université de Paris-Sorbonne, 1996)
  • La Pensée 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 Mystique Dans Les Traditions 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

Italian

Polish

Greek

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

Web links

See also

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ During (2003) pp. 41-43; Morris (2007) p. 2
  2. ^ Morris (2007) p. 2; For an overview of the events in Elahi 's life in chronological order, see also On the person of Ostad Elahi: Chronology
  3. ^ Morris (2007) p. 2; During (2003) pp. 23-26
  4. ^ Morris (2007) p. 3; Elahi, B. (Ed.): Asar-ol Haqq
  5. ↑ During (2003) p. 37; Morris (2007) p. 5
  6. ↑ During (2003) p. 39; See also On the Person of Ostad Elahi: The Judge
  7. ↑ On the person of Ostad Elahi: Chronology for a complete overview of his professional stations
  8. ↑ Elahi, B. (Ed.): Asar-ol Haqq ; Morris (2004)
  9. ^ Morris (2002); Morris (1996)
  10. ^ Morris (2007) p. 9
  11. ^ Morris (2007) p. 10; Ostad Elahi: On the Scriptures: Unpublished Manuscripts
  12. ^ Morris (2007) p. 10; Ostad Elahi: On the Scriptures: Proof of the Truth
  13. ↑ Ostad Elahi: On the Scriptures: Commentary on the Book of the Kings of Truth
  14. ↑ Morris (2007) pp. 10-11; Unicity S. XVI
  15. ↑ During (2003) p. 153
  16. ^ During (1989)
  17. ↑ During (2003) pp. 28-29ff; Morris (2007) p. 4
  18. ↑ During (2003) p. 28, p. 52
  19. ↑ During (2003) pp. 54-61
  20. ↑ See section Discography below
  21. ↑ During (2003) pp. 153-154
  22. ^ During (2003) pp. 71-72
  23. ↑ See insert text on the Destinations CD
  24. ↑ During (2003) pp. 73-75.
  25. ↑ See insert text of the CD The Celestial Music of Ostad Elahi
  26. ↑ During (2003) p. 144; See also The Music of Ostad Elahi
  27. ↑ See the video The Art of Tanbour: Exploring the Music of Ostad Elahi (1895–1974)
  28. ↑ During (2003) pp. 42-43; B. Elahi (1995)
  29. ↑ During (2003) p. 46; B. Elahi (1995)
  30. ↑ The following publications are available from Bahram Elahi (see the overview of translations in other languages ​​below): La Voie de la Perfection (Albin Michel, 2002), Médecine de l'Âme (Editions Dervy, 2000), La Spiritualité est une Science ( Editions Dervy, 1997), Fondements de la Spiritualité Naturelle (Editions Dervy, 1996) and Le Chemin de la Lumière (Albin Michel, 1985)
  31. ↑ Elahi, B. (Ed.): Asar ol-Haqq (Volume 1), quotation 1854
  32. ↑ Elahi, B. (Ed.): Asar ol-Haqq (Volume 1) p. 1856
  33. ↑ This name change was confirmed on October 21, 1941 and announced on December 9, 1941 in the edition of the "Etelaat" newspaper.
  34. ↑ Also known as Malek Jan, Sheikh Jani, and Jani Jan. See also malakjan.com
  35. ↑ A biographical overview and excerpts from her work can be found in: Malek Jan Nemati by Leili Anvar (Ibera Verlag Vienna, planned publication year 2011)
  36. ↑ At Ḥażrat (حضرت, 'Presence, Highness') is the salutation of a high-ranking person who is not part of their name (cf. Junker / Alavi: Persisch-Deutschesverzeichnis , Leipzig / Teheran 1970, p. 250).
  37. ↑ See also “Symposium on Spirituality Celebrates the Centennial of Ostad Elahi”, in UNESCO News, Vol. 2, No. 6, November 10, 1995 and Unicity. A Collection of Photographs of Ostad Elahi (1895–1974)
  38. ↑ See 100 maxims of leadership (Ibera, 2009); Unicity. A Collection of Photographs of Ostad Elahi (1895-1974); Words of Faith: Prayers of Ostad Elahi, Ed .: B. Elahi (1995); Le Spirituel: Pluralité et Unité, Actes du Symposium
  39. ^ Morris (2007) p. 2
  40. ↑ Le Spirituel: Pluralité et Unité, Actes du Symposium
  41. ^ "Symposium on Spirituality Celebrates the Centennial of Ostad Elahi." In UNESCO News , Vol. 2, No. 6, (November 10, 1995)
  42. ^ Words of Faith: Prayers of Ostad Elahi ; B. Elahi, 1995
  43. ^ Jean During: The spirit of sounds. The unique art of Ostad Elahi. P. 178 f. and 186 f.
  44. ↑ Sarraut (1995)
  45. ↑ 2. Jump up ^ Schweitzer, Vivien (August 29, 2014). Ostad Elahi, a Tanbur Master, Is Celebrated at Met Museum . In: The New York Times
personal data
SURNAME Ali Elahi only
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Ostad Elahi
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Iranian thinker, musician, philosopher and judge
DATE OF BIRTH September 11, 1895
PLACE OF BIRTH Jeyhunabad , Kermanshah Province , Iran
DATE OF DEATH 19th October 1974