Sufi Atlanta Newsletter

Transcription

1 Sufi Atlanta Newsletter Volume II, Issue 6: September-October 2018 Toward the One, the Perfection of Love, Harmony, & Beauty, The Only Being, United with all the Illuminated Souls, Who form the Embodiment of the Master, the Spirit of Guidance Make God a reality, and God will make you the truth (HIK, Gayan ) IN THIS ISSUE: A Moment to Breathe News Schedule and Plan for Fall Semester For Head & Heart

2 A MOMENT TO BREATHE: One of the key themes running throughout Murshid s teachings is balance. Murshid speaks again and again about balance, about the need to live a life of balance. When speaking about the qualities of a mureed, Hazrat Inayat notes [an] important thing in the life of a mureed is to live a life of balance between activity and repose, of regularity. Not too much work, nor too much rest ( Class for Mureeds II, from Supplementary Papers ). Does this mean that our whole lives will be even keel, never swerving to the right or the left? Maybe that is the intention in this teaching. But, I m not certain. It seems like most lives have ups and downs, times of planting and times of reaping. If we can t change the reality of life outside ourselves, what can we change? Indeed, we can change how we approach life. We can change our perspective and how we interpret our lives, giving us the opportunity to pursue a more balanced way of living. Certainly, there will be times of trial, and times of ease. As the Qur an states, for indeed, with hardship [will be] ease. Indeed, with hardship [will be] ease (94.5-6). Elsewhere, the Psalmist declares cast your burden on the Lord, and the Lord will sustain you (Psa ). We all need a moment to breathe, some space in the busy hustle of modern life. Where can we get a breath in? Another key theme in Murshid s teachings is the Ideal (often referred to as the God-Ideal). We progressively connect to our guides, to our Murshid, to ideal beings like the prophets and saints, and ultimately to the Divine Being. How can this connection help us get a breath in? Every time we reconnect with these realized beings we align ourselves with something beyond our present circumstances; we are energized by Divine Energies permeating the whole of Creation. Of course, ideally we can have a time of silence and peace each day. But, in the absence of that option, we can still reach a deep sense of presence and peace, if only we remember our Divine Inheritance, the origin of our souls in the Divinity. Reconnecting to our Source is refreshing and invigorating. Whether you have two hours or half a minute, remember to reconnect and realign with your truest self, the Ultimate Reality.

3 NEWS: 1) We are attempting to realign communications for our group. This will not eliminate the Listserve, but will allow simpler, more streamlined communication that can take place more on an ongoing basis. Please us if you are interested in being on the new platform. Thank you. 2) Our Atlanta Inayati Sufi gatherings this semester are planned for Oct. 21, Nov. 11, and Dec. 9. These will be on the indicated Sundays, at 3.30pm, at a location TBA each month (several friends are interested in hosting!). Keep your eyes on the Yahoo Listserve for updates on location. 3) For those unable to attend the physical meetings, we can broadcast via Skype, if there is an rsvp no later than the day before the meeting. For any questions or more information, or to rsvp for Skype, please contact us. 4) Lastly, to check the Order s official calendar for events and opportunities, see the website here. SCHEDULE AND PLAN FOR FALL SEMESTER: Studies for this semester will focus on the continuity of teaching coming through the Order s Pirs (Hazrat Inayat, Pir Vilayat, and Pir Zia). One key principle of the path is the discipline of concentration, a thread that will be treated throughout the gatherings this semester. Oct Nature Meditations - Pir-O-Murshid Hazrat Inayat Khan elevated Nature, calling mureeds to contemplate on the One Holy Book, the sacred manuscript of nature, which truly enlightens the reader ( Ten Sufi Thoughts, no. 3). In this gathering, we will hear some of Murshid s teachings on Nature, and will also practice some of the phrases from the book Nature Meditations. Nov Baptism of the Elements - Deepening our practice, Pir Vilayat shared insights about the power of the elemental breaths, a foundational exercise for Inayati Sufis. At this gathering we will study his teachings and seek to find a new connection with this much loved practice. Dec. 9 - The Mysticism of Music - Murshid was a musician and often used music (literally and metaphorically) to share about the mystical life, and to help us understand

4 the tuning of the heart. Using music, and Murshid s words from the Sufi Message, Vol. II, we will learn to attune ourselves to the wisdom of the Beloved through the sacred song of our lives. FOR HEAD & HEART : May your heart be filled with heavenly joy, May your soul be illuminated with divine light, May your spirit uphold the divine Message, May you go on in the spiritual path, May God s peace abide with you forever and evermore ( Murshid s Blessing, from Caravan of Souls, pg. 195)

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