Oud and Spirituality to Me

bhanny

Well-Known Member
#1
I'm sure many, if not most of us have a relationship with oud that most outsiders just can't comprehend. And that relationship goes far beyond the scent alone. In fact, I have a good number of oils that smell nice. They are pleasing to be around. But I don't feel a connection to them. But there are those oils. Some beautiful, some rather stinky, that I feel such a deep connection with. They penetrate and touch somewhere so deep and raw inside, and awaken it, awaken me, with the softest, warming embrace. Each deep whiff quiets my busy mind, steadies my psyche. No other non-living thing has come close to this for me before.

So what types of oils do this the most? One would be a select few amazing Hindi/Chinese oils. Another those heavily resinsted masterpieces like Sultani. The last, and I've taken a good deal of criticism over this elsewhere, but nothing does it for me like the kinam oils like Kynam No1 and my Kyara LTD. They seriously take me to a place of true peace and bliss, even if only for a moment. It's like when I used to really try to meditate, finding that quiet and empty space where one thought has ended but another has yet to begin.

How about the rest of you?
 

kesiro

Well-Known Member
#2
Excellent post my brother. I am very much relating to what you wrote. My oud journey has been a blessing on quite a few levels. I think, as a baseline, I feel like I am connected with mother earth in a much closer way. As if I have been given a privilege of being let in on her secrets, in a way. Another effect has been that I find an inner peace and tranquility, a clarity of myself and my surroundings. My day to day existence is usually like a slow-motion car wreck and oud has been a way of finding some peace in the turmoil.
 
#3
I strongly believe that ones olfactory journey really starts and ends with Oud...even if you've been a "frag" head for a long time. My first intro to Oud was Aroha Kyaku and Oud Yusuf. Both excellent oils. It wasn't until I bought OR 1985 and Kinam Rouge shortly after that everything changed. I could never go back to perfume after that. In the past I would cringe whenever I would buy a niche fragrance. These Oud oils cost waaaay more and I can honestly say that I've never had buyers remorse. It's also funny how one of the most important things was how much a fragrance would "project" and be noticeable to others. In my experience, all of the Oud oils that I've used are personal scents and travel just enough for one to enjoy and I really don't concern myself with how much an oil will project.

That's what stands out to me the most. Of course, Oud oil and wood bring an immense joy every time I use them. Oud is a part of my life. It's in no way, shape, or form a hobby. I think that is why it's easy to see the value in them. For that reason, it's important to me that I support Ensar and Taha as much as possible because where else would one acquire Oud like this?
 

bhanny

Well-Known Member
#4
I strongly believe that ones olfactory journey really starts and ends with Oud...even if you've been a "frag" head for a long time. My first intro to Oud was Aroha Kyaku and Oud Yusuf. Both excellent oils. It wasn't until I bought OR 1985 and Kinam Rouge shortly after that everything changed. I could never go back to perfume after that. In the past I would cringe whenever I would buy a niche fragrance. These Oud oils cost waaaay more and I can honestly say that I've never had buyers remorse. It's also funny how one of the most important things was how much a fragrance would "project" and be noticeable to others. In my experience, all of the Oud oils that I've used are personal scents and travel just enough for one to enjoy and I really don't concern myself with how much an oil will project.

That's what stands out to me the most. Of course, Oud oil and wood bring an immense joy every time I use them. Oud is a part of my life. It's in no way, shape, or form a hobby. I think that is why it's easy to see the value in them. For that reason, it's important to me that I support Ensar and Taha as much as possible because where else would one acquire Oud like this?
I really agree with everything you said and my journey has been very similar. And I agree, will always support those guys are giving us access to the stuff that do. Plus the more we support, the more they can do!
 

RobertOne

Well-Known Member
#5
sg1011, I totally grok you.

My first ever Oud was also Aroha Kyaku and it was truly a life changing event for me also.

Only bettered by one thing of course, the smell of my little girls head after I cradeled her in my arms for the first time when she was 3 weeks old until she was about 9 months old. Sadly, it faded then and luckily, I found Oud.
 

bhanny

Well-Known Member
#6
sg1011, I totally grok you.

My first ever Oud was also Aroha Kyaku and it was truly a life changing event for me also.

Only bettered by one thing of course, the smell of my little girls head after I cradeled her in my arms for the first time when she was 3 weeks old until she was about 9 months old. Sadly, it faded then and luckily, I found Oud.
Hey Robert. You are not kidding. My two boys are only 4 and 5 (almost 6) and I miss those smells greatly. Not that this era is not amazing and fun, it is. Watching them learn to read and write and problem solve is amazing.

But what I wouldn't do to be woken up at 3am to give them a bottle, softly sing our favorite songs and gently rock them back to sleep, even just one more time. I miss their sweet baby breath that would bathe my face with each falling breath as they fell deeper and deeper asleep on my shoulder. I miss walking into their rooms each morning, after hearing them stir, wide-eyed, bed-headed and mostly toothless grins, caring for nothing else but my arrival.

I am very grateful to hear you talk about how, despite the difficulties of the phase you are in (face it, it's tough), you are able to appreciate the pure beauty of that time. Despite the exhaustion and stress, I worked very hard to stay present and enjoy those moments. I wish they lasted longer, but I will never have to regret missing out on them.
 

RobertOne

Well-Known Member
#7
Hey Robert. You are not kidding. My two boys are only 4 and 5 (almost 6) and I miss those smells greatly. Not that this era is not amazing and fun, it is. Watching them learn to read and write and problem solve is amazing.

But what I wouldn't do to be woken up at 3am to give them a bottle, softly sing our favorite songs and gently rock them back to sleep, even just one more time. I miss their sweet baby breath that would bathe my face with each falling breath as they fell deeper and deeper asleep on my shoulder. I miss walking into their rooms each morning, after hearing them stir, wide-eyed, bed-headed and mostly toothless grins, caring for nothing else but my arrival.

I am very grateful to hear you talk about how, despite the difficulties of the phase you are in (face it, it's tough), you are able to appreciate the pure beauty of that time. Despite the exhaustion and stress, I worked very hard to stay present and enjoy those moments. I wish they lasted longer, but I will never have to regret missing out on them.
I must have something irritating my eyes right now.
 

RobertOne

Well-Known Member
#9
Ha!!! No. It's true my friend. Your eyes aren't the issue. My brain likely is!
I was trying to obliquely say that after reading what you wrote a few tears might have come to my eyes.

I completely empathise with you.

Doing what I do is 90% drudgery, no sugarcoating that, but the other 10% makes it more than worthwhile. I think that many men if given the chance would be fantastic stay at home parents.

It's a pernicious kind of sexism in my neck of the woods that says although it's socially acceptable for women to seen as tough career types, hard US Marines or to lead the country it's dangerous to leave men alone looking after small children because... you know what men are like
 

bhanny

Well-Known Member
#10
I was trying to obliquely say that after reading what you wrote a few tears might have come to my eyes.

I completely empathise with you.

Doing what I do is 90% drudgery, no sugarcoating that, but the other 10% makes it more than worthwhile. I think that many men if given the chance would be fantastic stay at home parents.

It's a pernicious kind of sexism in my neck of the woods that says although it's socially acceptable for women to seen as tough career types, hard US Marines or to lead the country it's dangerous to leave men alone looking after small children because... you know what men are like
I hear you and it's completely untrue. I'm grateful my wife was willing to stay home with our boys and we had the means. But, even with the 90% drudgery, I would have traded places in a second. The lack of sleep and protected personal time is oppressive. But something about this little creature, that you helped forge, that is completely dependent upon you, is both everwhelming yet completely amazing.

And it is an unfortunate type of sexism, solely based on those fathers who could care less about those first precious months and years. All I know is that I made sure, to the best of my ability, that I was there to form wonderful memories of those bittersweet, challenging years. And more importantly, whatever memories they take into adulthood, when they become daddies themselves, their daddy was present in all of them.
 

kesiro

Well-Known Member
#11
I hear you and it's completely untrue. I'm grateful my wife was willing to stay home with our boys and we had the means. But, even with the 90% drudgery, I would have traded places in a second. The lack of sleep and protected personal time is oppressive. But something about this little creature, that you helped forge, that is completely dependent upon you, is both everwhelming yet completely amazing.

And it is an unfortunate type of sexism, solely based on those fathers who could care less about those first precious months and years. All I know is that I made sure, to the best of my ability, that I was there to form wonderful memories of those bittersweet, challenging years. And more importantly, whatever memories they take into adulthood, when they become daddies themselves, their daddy was present in all of them.

Robert and Brian - Hear! Hear! I am with you guys. I was in the trenches when mine were little the whole time when not at work. I have a 10th degree blackbelt in diaper changing. lol
What you put in as a dad, WAY pales in what you get out. No doubt the little ones are my greatest accomplishment.
 

~A Coburn

Well-Known Member
#12
This has been one of my favorite topics of conversation and I love your doting relationships with your babies, it takes a real man to be so sweet... and to admit to it =)

Spirituality for many also goes beyond physical relationships, and oud has always been a metaphor for spirituality.

Like the origins of oud, a spiritual path often begins with acknowledgment of one's flaws, a knowing that one can strive to become better and closer to Truth, closer to the One. This is our 'infection' our 'wound' that triggers the oud resin, the 'spiritual growth.'

As the years pass and one continues to strive, continues to refine one's character, to polish one's heart and rid one's self of base desires, anger, jealousy, lying, and all lowly traits by constantly turning it over to the Forgiver the resin develops, continues to spread throughout your being, and slowly the 'infection' becomes a fragrant, giving oud.

And just like a true spiritual guide, the oud tree with the greatest experience, the most development of resin, is the one that benefits others the most.

Oud is the consolidation, the very essence of the years of experience which these 'trees,' these spiritual vessels have undergone.

Often the longer the trees have been developing their resin, the greater their essence, and the greater the benefit and experience that comes from the spreading of their knowledge... a swipe of the oud!

@bhanny it's great to hear that Kyara LTD, and Kynam No 1 most evoke a sense of blissful peace for you.

Many have had similar experiences with other kinam oils too but because this is a really common question, I'd love to hear what others you have found especially resonate with you either for relaxation, spiritual aide, and for use in meditation. I know what I prefer, but what about you?