TOWARD THE ONE, THE PERFECTION OF LOVE, HARMONY AND BEAUTY, THE ONLY BEING, UNITED WITH ALL THE ILLUMINATED SOULS, WHO FORM THE EMBODIMENT OF THE MASTER, THE SPIRIT OF GUIDANCE | | |
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ISSUE 23 ~ DECEMBER 2023
Message from Pir Shabda Kahn
In Loving Remembrance
Selection from the Archive of Murshid Samuel Lewis
Dervish Healing Order, new teaching website
Book Releases, Sunrise in the West; In Family's Footsteps
The Hope Project, news and links
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Beloved Ruhaniat Family Sangha,
Deepest gratitude and prayers for each of you, your families and communities, our fellow human beings, animals, the natural world and the unseen during what many of us celebrate as the Holy-Days season, Winter Solstice for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere and Summer Solstice for those in the Southern Hemisphere!
In this time of turmoil in our world, as we experience the way we as humanity treat each other and the way humanity treats the fabric of nature - Mother Earth, may we all aspire to a New Year with more loving kindness and compassion and continue to find the way in which each of us can serve the relief of suffering and the Path of Awakening. May what we aspire for in the world also be our goal for our sangha relations and our family relations, and naturally “All our Relations”.
I remember Murshid Sam exhorting to us “Jesus Christ-YES, Santa Claus-NO, in what I felt was an effort to bring the Sacred to the forefront. Following Murshid’s example may we all breathe the Breath of the Christ Spirit and walk in the footsteps of Christ.
Much love and gratitude,
Pir Shabda Kahn
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In Unison,
with the Will of God,
we Will to have Peace.
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Peace Concentration Practice
The Ruhaniat sangha has long held this practice of reciting this phrase 11 times daily at 12 noon. We can keep this prayer in constant motion, ever circling around our globe.
Listen to this medley of three compositions
written by Maestro Allaudin William Mathieu
and recorded in 2010 by the New Sufi Choir:
Toward the One, Bismillah, and In Unison.
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In Loving Remembrance
Ya Salaamo to our beloved friends and family who have passed this year
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Dancing Bear William Bennett | |
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Paradiso Canto XXVII, Allessandro Vellutello | |
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From the Murshid Samuel Lewis Archives
A selection from archivist, Murshid Tansen O'Donohoe
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Dear Friends,
In sharing this paper from the Murshid Samuel Lewis Archives, Basira asked me to write a brief introduction to the selection in the manner that I often write for my mureeds regarding the selections we will be studying in a particular class.
Our paper this time is from the Takua Taharat: Everyday Life Gathas series written by Inayat Khan with commentary by Murshid S.A.M. It is entitled Purification of the Mind. This series in a way helps bridge the gap between the so-called spiritual life and everyday life. Though we all realize eventually there is no such distinction; our life and the way we live it is our spiritual practice. As always, the more we can create an inner state of spaciousness and receptivity, the more we will be able to receive, assimilate, and utilise these teachings. It is not simply a matter of studying these papers; rather it is a process of reflection and meditation to allow them to become a living experience for us. There are several valuable practices given in this paper.
Below are a couple excerpts from the paper to whet the appetite. Of particular interest to me is the explanation below of Ya Kafee meaning the All-Pervader and its relation to the breath in that we can attune to everything and anything in the space. Pir Moineddin in one his letters explained that: “Murshid’s first interpretation to me of the root of Kafee was that it meant “the All-Pervading power in space.” When I asked him another time, he was more explicit. He said: “Moineddin, the real meaning of Kafee is the INTEGRATION of all the qualities at the end of SAUM. That means that Allah’s Grace, Glory, Wisdom, Joy and Peace taken all together as a Unity are KAFEE — which is usually given the grade school treatment as “Remedy.”
There are many esoteric papers on this important subject especially including the Commentary on Mental Purification also available in the Esoteric Papers Library on the Ruhaniat website and also in the Archives.
Enjoy the Paper! Many blessings and much love, Tansen
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Excerpt ~
GATHA: But at whatever cost harmony is attained, it is a good bargain. For harmony is the secret of happiness, and in absence of this a person living in palaces and rolling in gold can be most unhappy.
TASAWWUF: We see that there is unhappiness in the world and as wars continue and there seems no way out of it, there is a total loss. For harmony has not become a way of life. Only there are those who are influenced by music and dancing and for them harmony is most important. Therefore it is not surprising to see that many of those most opposed to war are also those most concerned with these and other arts. For they intuitively understand that harmony is needed in life and also they get along better with each other than their forbears who are not only competitive but most unhappy.
For this reason Sufis often say “yes” to prevent disturbances although they may as people or even from a moral standpoint, know better. But we should not awaken people before their time and we must treat children as children.
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Excerpt ~
GATHA: Harmony is brought about by attuning ourselves to all beings, to all things, to all conditions, to all situations. And those who cannot tune themselves try to tune others, and while trying to tune others they break the strings.
TASAWWUF: Adepts are able by concentrating their breath, to get the general feeling of breathing of their immediate atmosphere, of those around them and even the atmosphere of the places about which they are thinking. We repeat Ya Kaffee, unaware that it means “All-Pervader” and that the breath, in a sense, can attune to everything and anything in the space. Therefore, it is more important to watch the breath, to understand the breath and by that means, and never by thought, to get the general tone of persons, places and situations.
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We would like to announce the new teaching website of the Dervish Healing Order. It is designed as a world-wide training tool for those interested in Spiritual/Sufi healing. We welcome all those who are drawn to learn about this path.
The site includes a rich array of teaching resources that you can use to familiarize yourself or go deep in your studies and practice of the DHO path of Spiritual/Sufi healing.
It includes video and audio classes of 18 senior teachers in the DHO, including Hakim Saul-uddin, Saadi, Aslan, Murad, Aadya Murshida, Natalia Nur Jahan, Sarfaraz, Baraka, and others, as well as Healing Ritual information and examples and remembrances of our Godparents.
Hakim Saul-uddin’s section include many of his stories about Murshid SAM and Mother Mary, his bedtime stories, practices, meditations, walks classes, zikrs and history of the DHO.
You can access the website here. When you click on a teacher’s class or a link to a class, you will be asked for a password. Click on “Request Access”. You’ll have a brief form to fill out and submit and then you will receive your password by email.
Ya Shafi, Ya Kafi, Ya Fattah!
Love and healing,
Murad Finkelstein
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Christ is born when God’s breath enters one’s nostrils and he is crucified when one’s thought enters one’s mind. Therefore, Christ was born in a manger, meaning the heart, but he was crucified at Golgatha, the place of the skull, which means the abode of thought. Christ’s two birthplaces, Bethlehem and Galilee, mean respectively, the house of breath and the place of elevation; that is to say, the physical body and the sphere of the heart. The crown of thorns around Christ’s head are the thoughts of humanity which prevent the Divine Being within oneself from functioning.
- Murshid Samuel Lewis, 201 Suras on Breath
photo courtesy of Mansur Johnson
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Sunrise in the West
by Murshid Wali Ali Meyer
We are thrilled to announce the release of a special hardcover edition of this long-awaited book on the life and teachings of Murshid SAM.
We are offering this special edition at a premium price of $101 + $15 shipping (USA shipping only) to help cover the many costs incurred to write the book. Thank you for your support!
Order here
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With a profound inner life, Samuel Lewis became known as both Sufi and Zen master. He also came to embody the deep teachings of living Hindu saints, the Kabbalah and the Christian mysteries. His horticultural endeavors and engagement in political and social causes throughout the world earned him international respect, and his spiritual realization generated a devoted following of spiritual seekers that is flourishing today.
- Pir Shabda Kahn
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In Family's Footsteps
by Wali van der Zwan
Ruhaniat Sheikh and author, Wali van der Zwan has just published a biography of Shaikh al-Mashaikh Mahmood khan Youskine. Born in 1927, his life spans the complete period of Sufism in the West after the passing of his uncle, Hazrat Inayat Khan. With a forward by Pir Zia Inayat Khan, this book is a treasure trove for anyone interested in Sufism, its history, and its relevance for this present day...read more
Order here
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The Hope Project
Basti Hazrat Nizamuddin, New Delhi, India
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Hope Project India, located in Basti Hazrat Nizamuddin, was founded in 1980 by Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan. Moved by the extreme poverty of the people living near the dargah of his father Hazrat Inayat Khan, he envisioned a program, which would enable the poor to help themselves.
The Hope Project currently runs a community health center, a nursery, a non-formal school, vocational training courses, a thrift and credit program, and a women’s micro-enterprise unit...read more
Read the December 2023 newsletter
Donate to the Hope Project
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19th Annual Northern California Sufi Sesshin
with Pir Shabda Kahn, Murshida Darvesha MacDonald,
Murshid Rahmat Moore, and Sheikh Gayan Gregory Long
March 3 - 8, 2024
Bishops Ranch, Healdsburg, California
Click here for more information
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Join us for silent meditation alternating with Zikr and Dances of Universal Peace, integrating active practice with meditation, a deep and joyful experience.
"The Dances of Universal Peace and Zikr are an excellent way to prepare for meditation and meditation is an excellent way to prepare for the Dances of Universal Peace and Zikr."
- Murshid Samuel Lewis
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One Earth - One Voice - One Heartbeat
Ruhaniat Jamiat Ahm - Europe
with Murshida Halima Sussman and Murshid Abraham Sussman
along with Ruhaniat Teachers from our European Community
April 2 - 7, 2024
Youth hostel, "Urwald Life Camp" near Lauterbach, Thuringia, Germany
Click here for more information
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An International gathering of the Ruhaniat Family with Dances of Universal Peace, Walking Concentrations and Meditations. We give importance to the open nature of our meeting. The framework of the program is designed in such a way that there is room for many from the community to get involved with contributions such as dances, poetry, stories or more. Guest teachers Halima and Abraham Sussman from the USA join the central Europe community and in the stream of blessings, a healing whole will be woven by all of us.
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Save the Date
Ruhaniat Jamiat Aam - USA
with Pir Shabda Kahn, Murshid Allaudin Ottinger, and Amina Meyer
April 25 - 28, 2024
Madison, Wisconsin
More information coming soon
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Donate to Sufi Ruhaniat International | |
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Your donations help us to answer the continuing call of our mission. We are grateful to our donors, volunteers, teachers, the Murshids' Circle and the Board of Trustees, who help us in our work and service. Thank You!
Legacy Giving
The Ruhaniat is a container for a living transmission that is anchored in the lineage practices and teachings that have been handed down to us through centuries. Please support the future of our organization by including Sufi Ruhaniat International in your will or trust. Help us pass on a thriving and vital organization.
To include SRI in your will or trust, click here for information
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Connections
major camps, recordings and online communities
~ click the calendar link for more listings ~
Calendar of Events
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Pilgrimage to the Urs of Hazrat Inayat Khan
New Delhi, India, Feb 1-20, 2024
19th Annual Northern California Sufi Sesshin
Healdsburg, California, Mar 3-8, 2024
Ruhaniat Jamiat Ahm - Europe
near Lauterbach, Thuringia, Germany, Apr 2-7, 2024
Save the Dates - Ruhaniat Jamiat Aam - USA
Madison, Wisconsin, Apr 25-28, 2024
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Ruhaniat Family Zoom Gatherings
Recordings: Video and Audio
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Ya Fattah! Ya Fattah! Ya Fattah!
~ with love and best wishes upon this holiday season and New Year ~
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Content Submissions
ruhnews@ruhaniat.org
Send us poetry, art, videos, essays, interviews, musings, suggestions, feedback, and support. Include your name, city and country. Your submission implies permission to use now or in the future. We reserve the right to edit content. We may not use all the content that we receive.
Hu.
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