One of the wonderful things about being in the presence of a great teacher is how they can turn each and every interaction into an opportunity for the student to “catch the teaching.”

Of course, the lesson the student “needs” will vary with the student. In my case, I was needful of humility. Read on:

It was the late spring of 1970, as I recall. Murshid had been complaining about needing help around his San Francisco house on Precita, so as a willing mureed I showed up early to help.

“What do you want me to do?” I asked him. “Well,” he answered, “you’re the first here. There is dust everywhere. Start cleaning it up.”

So, I started in his bedroom, and somehow I was like a whirlwind — only very careful and very well organized. After a half hour, not only was his bedroom done, but I had finished the front room, and the dining room-library. I was just starting in the kitchen, when he came in from the backyard, and saw how much I had done (and how well). I was very proud of my self and my efforts.

“Stop!” he said. “You won’t leave anything to do for those who are still coming.”

“Yes Murshid,” I answered. And, as a “good boy,” I didn’t offer to mess things up again.

Happy 33rd Urs day Murshid. So many thanks for all the blessings and the greatness of spirit you shared with us so freely.

Ya Shakur Allah!

yours in service to the real,
hakim saul

Most Beloved one’s of God,

On the 32nd Urse of Murshid S.A.M. I felt moved to share a story from my time with him.

It was on our (Murshid, Mansur, myself & Wuta) trip to see his Uncle Harry in British Columbia, and we had made a number of stops along the way: Mt Shasta, where we just missed Mother Mary, Klamath Falls, where we met Auntie Helen and drove around Crater Lake, and passing through Portland, where he commented that he had always wanted to live in that city but God wouldn’t let him, and onto the Seattle area where we met Samcher Beorse, and where this reminiscence takes place.

It is 1970, and the local Sufi’s had booked a Unitarian Church for a welcoming gathering for him. Do remember that most of the Sufis who were around then were either direct disciples of Hazrat Inayat Khan or came to Sufism at a much earlier time then either Mansur or myself.

So, there we were at the podium, Mansur and me standing close to Murshid and him looking at the audience of mostly older people. Samcher introduces him at Pir-O-Murshid Samuel Lewis, and Murshid went ballistic — “I am a Murshid,” he sputtered. “Only Inayat Khan is Pir-O-Murshid.”

Samcher mumbles an apology, and Murshid starts with the invocation and then led the audience in the prayers Saum, Salat & Khatum.

There was short silence, and then Murshid exploded at them: “You have been doing these prayers for almost 50 years, and you still don’t get it.” He then had Mansur and me demonstrate some of the walks he had taught us, as an illustration of what his current work with young people was all about.

After the meeting — which was very short — we were all standing at the front door of the church talking to Samcher when the people in the audience started coming out and each one took his hand, shaking it and saying what a wonderful sermon he had given. I thought he would have apoplexy on the spot. They still didn’t get it.

Happy Urs Day Murshid

Allah Shakur!

all love and blessings,
hakim saul