Dear family,
Our Lama pilgrimage is now part of the ‘living history’ of Murshid Sam’s legacy.
Firstly, I am so happy to report that Murshid is alive and present, and vocal.
About 70 of us gathered for our week together, and his blessings were palpable. Alhamdulliah! The Lama community was as gracious as ever, and we felt welcomed and honored.
Five of Murshid Sam’s original mureeds were present:
Siddiq, Mansur, Fawn (Nasima), Surya (Less), and myself
We held 2 formal processions up to the grave site, and did the Absent Healing Ritual there twice. What a rush of blessings.
Ananda was with us – Yeah! – and led deeply touching sung zikr in both the Lama dome, and at the grave site itself.
So many inner instructions were given:
I was told to make 3 more Shafayats: Jude Sargent, Michael Endlich and Nazzruddin Eddie Greenberg. And, Siddiq was recognized for his many, many years of unselfish devotion with the title of Vakil (the Guardian). I loved his comment, when asked if he wanted this public or private -“I’ve been doing this for so many years, it might as well be public.”
Mashallah!
Nasima came to me to share her instructions from Murshid. She had avoided the grave site, and was working in the kitchen. “He told me to be initiated,” she said. So, I initiated her as a healing conductor, and she will hold that post at Lama.
At our gathering, there were so many of our family who can hold both the inner and outer space, that we opened up the meeting to many presenters:
Although I opened with the first of the Absent Healing Ritual, each morning had a different conductor, ending with our newest initiated conductor.
Our brother Aslan is undergoing Chemo Therapy, so there was no choir.
With more time to pray together, we increased our regular offerings:
- Ahura Grace took over the dance night. and, Ya Shakur! she held the energy very well.
- Murad led an evening of Sufi Qigong/Healing Zikr that had us extending our fingers of light with wazifa and clearing blockages and pain from our bodies. A number of people reported amazing elimination of pain.
- Ahura Grace led us in a powerful evening of zikr that was joined by the neighboring Lama community.
- In addition, our brother Noel Hanuman was feeling too frail for high altitudes and uneven ground, so Richard took over the post of honoring Hanuman, and did a superb job. Ram! Ram! Ram!
- 1001 Bead Zikr at the grave site (Murshida Mariam),
- Sufi Qigong 3.0 (Murad),
- Morning Yoga (Richard),
- Tea (Siddiq & Sakina),
- the Kuan Yin Aspect (Sarfaraz),
- Dream Diving (Azima),
- The Hidden Jewel in the Amulet (Micheal Endlich),
- Writing Down the Bones (in honor of Elaine Sutton-Ayesha),
- Shamanistic Journey (River)
- Mansur read excerpts from his newest book of memories of what Murshid felt and did in his presence. He is calling it “The Bowl of Saki” – with his commentary and memories following each entry. He remarked that he had so many more memories to share that were not in his book Murshid.
- And, there were walks
- Ram Nam
- The Kali Mantra
- The Maha Mudra
- bed time stories, and homework.
- Plus a lot of new reminiscences from folks who were with Murshid. I loved Nasima’s story of how she got her name…
We followed Lama’s Friday night Shabbos celebration, with some Hebrew Tassawuri walks, a few stories I recalled from my youth, and then Nazruddin enlivened the evening with Humor as a tool for healing the heart. Funny! as usual. And, better yet, it worked.
Some of the Old Timers came by for a howdy too – Rahaman was a stand out in memory.
Special Kudos to Murad who oversaw the Pilgrimage – from inception, through planning and into reality, to Jude, who kept us in check and arranged transport and ride sharing, and to Jamil, our Lama contact, who assisted in holding such a welcoming and loving space for us to gather together. Ya Shakur.
We also spoke about our ‘special donation’ to Lama:
Lama is planning on renovating the old kitchen, which is now unusable, and they are raising funds for it. I did not want our donation to go into a large pool, but wanted it to go towards a single specific purpose, as we have done in the past. They want a new entrance door to the renovated kitchen, and donating a door (way) feels so much DHO. I envisioned a blend of design on the outer side – New Mexico and Sufi – and a Zen theme on the inner side – so that when one enters – one is aware of where one is, and when one leaves – one is made aware of leaving the inner, and re-entering the outer (world). I would also love to see a small inscription on the bottom of the outer side –
“Samuel L. Lewis Memorial Doorway to Inner Peace”
Lama has contact with a gifted local woodworker…so it is a possibility. Depending on what he charges, we may have enough in trust to cover it. Inshallah!
Topping it all off, 30 of us joined Murshida Darvesha, on Sunday – the next day – for a celebration of The Dances turning 50 years old. About 125 folks showed up for the afternoon. It was rocking.
Photos of Lama – https://www.dropbox.com/sh/2ld8edpzgpwzi1v/AAB1q3Am2QdZG1xk4OdX5Yxja?dl=0
AND:
We are hoping for Mt. Shasta in 2019 – June 16 to 21
Mark your calendars.
Mother Mary. The Great White Brotherhood. The Order of Melchizadek.
Flying Saucers. Widow Springs. The Zen Mission Society. Jiu Kennett Roshi.
Panther Meadows. and so much more of the Esoteric Transmission of our lineage.
The proposed housing is not expensive, and they are happy to work with us on food.
More soon.
Am now resting up at home in Virginia
sending love and hugs
your in Service to the Real
Hakim Sauluddin
Happy Freedom Day – July 4, 2018
