Dervish Healing Order
DHO letter - December 2001
Beloved ones of God,
December 3, 2001
As the season of Christ's Mass approaches, I am filled with a feeling of
ambiguity over the wanton destruction that has occurred in the name of God, and
our response to it. Whilst, at the same time, I am so thankful that we live in
a country where we are free to practice our religion or path, and that our
larger community has reached out to the American Muslims with an open heart and
willing hands. Alhamdullilah!
Now I can only pray that the Muslim community world wide will reciprocate to
their own "minorities," and make them an integrated part of their family -
whether they be Kurds, Baluchis, Shias (or Sunnis), or any of the other
oppressed "minorities" within the Muslim world, including Jews - Christians -
Hindus - Zoroastrians - Buddhists, etc., etc.
It has been another very full year for us all: Our Germany DHO gathering was
larger and more "juice-filled" than ever, and our 30 Year Pilgrimage to Murshid
SAM at Lama was over flowing with love and joy and laughter (just as he would
have wanted it).
Our second gathering in Prague (at the end of September) was truly
international, with folks coming in from Holland, Germany, Estonia, Greece, and
of course the Czech Republic. We performed the Absent Healing Ritual at the
former village of Lidice for the victims of the Nazi horror there.
In addition, on November 24, we were in New York for a previously scheduled
meeting, and joined with Jean Pierre David and folks from as far away as
Seattle, Montana, and Virginia to conduct the Absent Healing Ritual at the site
of the former World Trade Center. There were 14 of us at the site itself, and
afterwards we had our gathering at the Sufi Bookstore with about 100 people
joining us for prayer and stories and walks and laughter. It was wonderful.
Afterwards I went on to Boston to join with Abraham and Halima Sussman to relive
the early days of the Sufi Choir (Jim Fellows joined us), and to have a meeting
at their home. About 20 folks joined with us for prayer and laughter. We also
went onto Logan Airport to perform the Service for those who were in the planes
that left Boston and were crashed into the WTC. May their hearts and souls be
at peace and reunited with God's love.
Upcoming: D.H.O. GATHERING - Summer 2002 - "Hu We Are"
DATES: June 24th to June 29th (Monday through Saturday).
PLACE: Mt. Home Retreat. 2 swimming pools, great food, and loads of outdoors.
LOCATION: by Calistoga in Northern California's famous wine country.
PRICE: From $325 to $525 (depending on accommodations).
RESERVATIONS:
jen@well.com - Jennifer Avian, 157 Burns Valley Road, Loma
Mar, California 94021 - (650) 879 0364.
There will be choir, chi gong, walks, dancing, Zikr, ritual, and our general
frolicking amidst the trees. We had such a great time here 2 years ago, we
decided to return.
Looking forwards to seeing you in the pool.
All love and blessings -
Hakim Sauluddin