HeartBeat Summer 2009 - Sufi Ruhaniat International

Sufi Ruhaniat InternationalToward 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.We aspire to support the awakening of heartsand the relieving of suffering, helping humanbeings unfold their soul’s purpose andlive harmoniously.The Sufi Ruhaniat International was foundedby Murshid Samuel L. Lewis shortly before he died in1971. We are in the stream of the ages-old wisdom lineageof Sufism brought to the West in 1910 by HazratPir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan, 1882-1927, under the title“The Sufi Message of Spiritual Liberty,” and his discipleHazrat Pir-o-Murshid Samuel L. Lewis (Sufi AhmedMurad Chisti). This work was continued by Hazrat PirMoineddin Jablonski, the spiritual successor of MurshidSamuel Lewis, who guided the Ruhaniat from 1971 untilhis death in 2001. It continues today under the guidance ofPir Shabda Kahn, the successor of Pir Moineddin.The Invocation of Hazrat Inayat Khan states:Toward the One, the Perfection of Love, Harmonyand Beauty, the Only Being; United with All the IlluminatedSouls, Who Form the Embodiment of the Master, theSpirit of Guidance.In accord with this invocation, we affirm our desirefor unity of heart with all spiritual seekers on all paths towardGod. Celebrating diversity within unity, we affirmour unique heritage and universal spiritual transmissionthrough the life and work of Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti. Thisconnects us principally to the Sufi lineage of Hazrat InayatKhan, but also many other Illuminated Souls, known andunknown to the world. This transmission includes blessingstreams from Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti’s many teachers ,only some of whom are named here: Swami Papa Ramdas,Mother Krishnabai, Nyogen Senzaki, Sokei-an Sasaki,Sufi Barkat Ali, and Mata-ji Ruth St. Denis.The Ruhaniat family is composed of sincere mureeds(formally initiated students) who tread the path of initiationand discipleship, seeking the truth of the inner life throughpersonal practice and direct experience—just as the disciplesof Christ, Buddha, the Divine Mother, Mohammed,and other illuminated souls, known and unknown, havedone through the ages. Because Sufism is based on experiencesand not on premises, we affirm the preciousness ofan initiatic relationship of spiritual transmission betweeninitiator and mureed. It is a fundamental principle of theSufi Ruhaniat International that each mureed have an initiatorto serve as friend, guide and reality check. This primaryinitiatic relationship provides a living matrix withinwhich student as well as teacher may develop in characterand spiritual experience.Further activities of the Ruhaniat include an EsotericStudies program, the International Network for the Dances ofUniversal Peace, the Dervish Healing Order, the Service ofUniversal Peace and ministerial training, Spiritual Psychologyand Soulwork, Ziraat, and many other inspired teachingsof the leaders and lineage holders of the Ruhaniat.Many contemporary tools are available to help us inour personal and spiritual growth. At the same time, we representa tradition that has its roots in prehistory. The sacredpractices and teachings that have arisen from diverse climesand cultures have been carefully cultivated and prepared forus to be planted in the soil of today’s heart.We aspire to serve humanity in experiencing love,harmony, and beauty, by embodying the unity of religiousideals, and by working for the awakening of humankindto the divine light and power that is the essence of everyhuman being.From Hazrat Pir-o-Murshid Inayat KhanObjects of the movement:1. To establish a human unity with no considerationof caste, creed, race, nation, or religion. Differencesproduce inharmony and cause all miseries in theworld.2. To spread the wisdom of Sufis which has been untilnow a hidden treasure, it being the property of humankindwhich does not belong to a certain race orreligion.3. To attain that perfection where mysticism remainsno more a mystery, which relieves the disbelieverfrom ignorance and the believer from falling victimto hypocrisy.From Hazrat Pir-o-Murshid Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti(Murshid Samuel L. Lewis)Our work is to spread the knowledge and love and light ofGod. By stressing the positive, the affirmative, the true, wehelp ourselves and all humanity.From Hazrat Pir Moineddin JablonskiAspirations for those on the path:Deepen your compassion. Love the wounded places in youthat need healing. Open yourself to the grace of illumination.Give freely of your joy. Share your neighbor’s burden.Through all these avenues, discover your Soul.May all beings be well!May all beings be happy!Peace, Peace, Peace. 2 HeartBeat Summer 2009

ContentsOn Love, Sufi Thought Seven by Pir-o-Murshid Hazrat Inayat Khan...................................................... 4From Bestowing of Blessing—on love by Murshid Samuel L. Lewis ...................................................... 5Excerpts from “The Bowl of Saki” by HIK with commentaries by Murshid Sam................................. 6Where Adam and Eve Made Love by Saadi Shakur Chishti..................................................................... 9Love, Inward and Outward by multiple contributors.............................................................................. 11Iran and The Feather of the Simorgh by Elias Amidon........................................................................... 15Two poems: Initiation; Guide by Mirabai Wolf Willow........................................................................... 18Forty Years with Jaman—Love on the Path of Commerce by Najat Roberts...................................... 19The Holiest Shrine in Iran is in Mashad by Mansur Johnson................................................................. 21The Inayati Family: Just How Big Are We? By Aslan Scott Sattler....................................................... 26Morning Prayer by Mary Flowers.............................................................................................................. 31Remembrance by Khushi Tanveer.............................................................................................................. 32Sufi Ruhaniat International Financial Report 2008 by Boudewijn Boom............................................... 34Sufi Ruhaniat International Board of Trustees Meeting....................................................................... 36Theme for Winter 2009/2010 Issue.......................................................................................................... 39Available Ruhaniat Publications.............................................................................................................. 40Make a Donation of $1001, Support the Ruhaniat................................................................................. 41Cover: Elements No. 1: by Murad SayenEmail and Internet AddressesSufi Ruhaniat International website—www.ruhaniat.orgWebmaster: Abdul Shaffee Ballinger—admin@ruhaniat.orgSufi Ruhaniat International secretary: Amrita Skye Blaine—Ruhaniat@mail.comDances of Universal Peace website—www.dancesofuniversalpeace.orgDervish Healing Order Website—www.dervish-healing-order.orgInternational Network for the Dances of Universal Peace—INoffice@dancesofuniversalpeace.orgLiving Stream Preservation Project: Boudewijn Boom—Ruhaniat@mail.comPir Shabda Kahn’s site—www.marinsufis.comRuhaniat Publication orders: SufiRuhaniat@gmail.comService of Universal Peace—sup@zianet.comSpiritual Psychology—info@sufisoulwork.orgZiraat: Vakil Forest Shomer—ziraat@olympus.net, www.olympus.net/personal/ziraatOurSohbet listserve subscriptions (Ruhaniat & DHO members) please Email: Malik Roggendorf—MLKRoggen@aol.com About this publicationHeartBeat is now distributed as a PDF file only. There is no print version.Bismillah, er-Rahman er-Rahim—We begin in the name of Allah, Who is Mercy and CompassionPublished twice a year, we present diverse views from our community and include inspiring thoughts from our heritage.The strength of the newsletter depends on contributions from the community.Please make submissions for articles in electronic form (preferably via Email), and contact usfor best method of submitting ads and graphics. Copyright by individual contributors, all rights reserved.Editor: Amrita Skye Blaine • PO Box 51118, Eugene, OR 97405 • 541-465-1193 • ruhaniat@mail.comEditorial Assistance: Boudewijn Boom Every effort has been made to secure permission to reproduce the images in this issue. Anyadditional copyright holders are invited to contact the editor so that proper credit can be given in future issues. Sufi Ruhaniat International 3

On Love, Sufi Thought Sevenby Pir-o-Murshid Hazrat Inayat KhanThere is One Moral, the love which springs forth from self-denialand blooms in deeds of beneficence.There are moral principles taught to mankind by various teachers, by many traditions, onediffering from the other, which are like separate drops coming out of the fountain. But whenwe look at the stream, we find there is but one stream, although it turns into several drops onfalling. There are many moral principles, just as many drops fall from one fountain; but there is onestream that is at the source of all, and that is love. It is love that gives birth to hope, patience, endurance,forgiveness, tolerance, and to all moral principles. All deeds of kindness and beneficence takeroot in the soil of the loving heart. Generosity, charity, adaptability, an accommodating nature, evenrenunciation, are the offspring of love alone. The great, rare and chosen beings, who for ages havebeen looked up to as ideal in the world, are the possessors of hearts kindled with love. All evil andsin come from the lack of love.People call love blind, but love in reality is the light of the sight. The eye can only see the surface;love can see much deeper. All ignorance is the lack of love. As fire when not kindled gives onlysmoke, but when kindled, the illuminating flame springs forth, so it is with love; it is blind whenunderdeveloped, but, when its fire is kindled, the flame that lights the path of the traveler from mortalityto everlasting live springs forth; the secrets of earth and heaven are revealed to the possessor ofthe loving heart, the lover has gained mastery over himself and others, and he not only communeswith God, but unites with Him…. 4 HeartBeat Summer 2009Pir-o-Murshid Hazrat Inayat Khan

July 17We should be careful to take away from ourselves any thorns that prick us in the personality ofothers.The heart contains all notes, consequently it can harmonize with any other heart. When there isdisharmony, it is a head condition; no matter how justified that disharmony, still it is related to nufs.God in the Supreme Essence contains all goodness and badness or none; that is to say God is thePerfection of quality, never its extension—no matter how great the extension be. God is not multitudes,or largeness, but infinite, and this infinite qualification escapes comprehension of finite mind.If the spiritual aspirant keeps the breath in Fikr, if the talib holds the heart in Ishk, it is impossibleto be unfavorably affected by others. One is either united with all souls or not so united. Thisdoes not mean condescension to others. It means either change yourself to become harmonious tothat person, or else—with all the force at your command—to drive the evil spirit out of the other andmake them whole. The use of this power is not contrary to Ishk if it heals another.July 20Every blow in life pierces the heart and awakens our feelings to sympathize with others; andevery swing of comfort lulls us to sleep and we become unaware of all.Ishk, the life current flowing through the heart and permeating the blood, touches all souls.This is a marvelous law, that many people, often harsh and unsympathetic, upon suffering greatpain then begin to show sympathy and love towards others. This is because of the very nature ofIshk, Ishk which knows neither self nor not-self. So when heart is in Ishk it shows loving-kindness toall, not recognizing differences. This is the ideal condition of the traveler.July 21A study of life is the greatest of all religions, and there is no greater or more interesting study.What is religion? It is that which unites man and God. And what is that? It is Ishk. Is Ishk love?Is Ishk life? Is Ishk light? It is none of them and all of them. Without comprehension of Ishk wecannot understand light, we cannot understand life, we cannot comprehend love.Knowledge of Ishk is called Ilm by the Sufis. This is the truest and highest knowledge there is,which may be called Love-Knowledge—not knowledge of love or love of knowledge but the absoluteUnion of the two. This is “the study” and “the religion” in the truest sense of the terms.July 23Warmth melts, while cold freezes. A drop of ice in a warm place spreads and covers a large space,whereas a drop of water in a cold place freezes and becomes limited. Repentance has the effectof spreading a drop in a warm sphere, causing the heart to expand and become universal, whilethe hardening of the heart brings limitations.This shows the operation of Ishk. The expansive effect of Ishk, altering coarser vibrations intofiner ones, creates what is called spirit. Spirit and matter are one, but the force of Ishk is lessened asit is removed from its source, which is the Throne or Heart of God (Arsh). Through Ishk ice melts,flowers grow, animals gain strength and all power of man comes. So to conceive that Allaho Akbarhas one effect and Ishk Allah has another is blindness, except that Allaho Akbar seems to touch thephysical body quicker and the heart more slowly while Ishk Allah touches the heart more quicklyand the physical body more slowly. But in the end they meet, the purpose is the same—the»Sufi Ruhaniat International 7

Editor’s note: The following chapter is reprintedfrom The Tent of Abraham: Stories of Hope andPeace for Jews, Christians and Muslims by Joan Chittister,OSB; Murshid Saadi Shakur Chishti, andRabbi Arthur Waskow (Beacon Press, 2006). Inthe book the authors retell andoffer contemporary commentaryon the stories of Abraham, Sarahand Hagar from the standpoint ofthe three traditions. Translationsfrom the Qur’an are by the authorunless otherwise noted.We identified for Abraham thesite of the House and told him:“Do not associate any thing,thought or idea with the OneReality when you pray; andsanctify my House for thosewho circumambulate it orstand up or bow or prostratethemselves there.—Sura 22:26.Where Adam and Eve Made LoveThe climax of the story of Abraham in Meccacomes with his third visit when, according to Islamictradition, he and Ishmael build the Kaaba.This time when Abraham arrives, Ishmael is hometrimming arrows, preparing to go hunting again.Abraham tells him of God’s command to build theKaaba and Ishmael offers to help.A divine messenger in the form of a cloud orwind shows them the site. As they dig, they findthe foundations of an older shrine, built by Adam.Here pre-Islamic and non-orthodox Biblical traditionsknit themselves together with the story relatedby the Qur’an and in the hadith. In the largerIslamic story, as told by various commentators, 11For instance, in the 11 th century traditional collectionTales of the Prophets by Muhammad ibn Abd Allah al-Kisai, translated by W. M. Thackston, Jr (1997).by Saadi Shakur Chishti (Saadi Douglas-Klotz)Saadi Douglas-KlotzAdam and Eve were expelled from Paradise whenthey were tempted to ignore God’s command notto eat grain from the “Plant of Eternity” (a changefrom the Biblical Tree of the Knowledge of Goodand Evil). They are tempted by Iblis (a rebelliousangel), who said that eating thegrain will make them eternal.This telling of the story seemsto reflect an early suspicion ofagriculture as providing a falsesense of security. A nomad traditionallydepended upon graceof the divine realm for survival.After Adam and Eve leaveParadise, they are separated forhundreds of years, each mourningtheir joint mistake as well astheir separation from each other.According to one story, Adamlands in India and his tears turnto musk, while Eve lands on thecoast of Arabia and her tears turnto pearls and coral. The windcarries their voices to each other,which causes them even moresorrow and longing. Finally, when they have repentedenough, God reunites them in Mecca. Firstthey circumambulate and then make love insidethe original Kaaba.These older, evocative stories become part ofIslamic tradition when the Qur’an describes Abrahamand Ishmael rebuilding the Kaaba. Accordingto this story, the famous Black Stone in a cornerof the Kaaba was first a brilliant white, broughtby Adam from paradise. The angel Gabriel carriesit to Abraham from India, but in subsequentgenerations it turns black during disputes overwho owns the shrine.As Abraham and Ishmael build the Kaabathey pray:»Sufi Ruhaniat International 9

“O Sustainer, accept this service from us, foryou are the illumination of all seeing and allknowing. Our Nurturer, teach our childrenand us how to surrender to Unity, so thatwe may become a community bowing to thesacred in all. Show us the places where wecan celebrate the rites appropriate for us.Return us to the rhythm that is ripe for us,for You are the One who returns us to therhythm of Reality with unrestricted mercyand love” (Sura 2: 127–128).On a mythic and psychological level, these storiescommunicate important wisdom from the past:the overreaching of Adam and Eve trying to attainimmortality; the softening power of their tears; thepower of their longing for each other; and the birth ofsacred space, where surrender to the divine combineswith deep love for another person.It may be difficult for us to peel back the layersof our “modern” intelligence to understand theimportance of story, sacred space or shared communityritual today. The deeper, more symbolicside of nature and creation has been replaced by autilitarian view, which sees nature as an object to beused rather than as a living being communicating asacred reality of equal value to our own existence.Likewise, ritual and story become something nonessential,at best hobbies, at worst a waste of time inour secularized, flatland existence. Time shortensand becomes embodied in to-do lists instead of pulsingin rhythm ahead of and behind us to allow us toconnect in feeling with those who have gone beforeus and those who come after. Reflected on anotherlevel, immediate political and economic events andstrategies become the only things actually valuedas “reality.” In this culture, even a spiritual storycan be manipulated like an object, which serves tobolster various fundamentalist political agendas.We can mourn the loss of a shared mythicstory as another layer of “paradise lost.” At thesame time, we are witnessing a gradual increase byeveryday people in the developed world for thoseless fortunate than themselves. We are also witnessingincreasingly forceful demands that Westernpolitical leaders factor compassion into their economicequations. However, we are still far fromacknowledging, as many holy books say, that “ourGod and your God are one—there is only one sharedReality.” Here we may need to put the word Godinto quotation marks for modern sensibilities andtranslate it as “the source and meaning of what wevalue in life.”The only problem with this is that the wordssource and meaning do not evoke any feeling in thehuman heart. A sense of numinous reality within,underneath and interpenetrating everyday life,does. Perhaps humanity’s future survival dependson our rediscovering the ability to feel somethingstrange, old, awe-inspiring and meaningful at thesame time—something of more than ephemeralvalue. It could mean valuing what is being lostdue to environmental destruction. It could lead toimagining that we are walking where Adam andEve walked, making love where they did, circumambulatinga shrine not made of stone, but revealedwhen we blow away the errors of ages and see thefoundations of our shared human heart emergingfrom the dust. 10 HeartBeat Summer 2009

Love, Inward and OutwardReport on the 2009 Jamiat Ahm in Prescott, Arizonahad explained the phrase “Jamiat Ahm” as the Ruhaniat’s annual family reunion, yet before theI event I had no idea how accurate that was! I reconnected with so many beloveds who live in myheart during the great gaps between the times we see each other, basked in the teachings by the elders,ate such lovingly prepared meals, swam in the music and singing, and slept so well in a tent with aheater provided by the camp manager!The magic and joy were palpable, and I give the credit not only to everyone who attended butespecially to the Prescott Dance and Sufi circle who organized the event. An event always carriessomething of the energy of the organizers, and the perfection of this event was a powerful reflectionof the ease, competence and grace of those who came together to organize it. I have such gratitude tothem for so thoroughly and thoughtfully creating the container for us and holding us with such lovethrough the weekend, and I carry with me their example of how to come together to create somethingof such preciousness. Ya Shakur! —Sky Majida RoshayWelcoming and accommodating hosts, harmonious and inspiring leadership, the pure joy ofconnecting with Sufi family whether long time friends or new; and the auction...who knew charitablegiving could engender so much laughter! It was truly an experience of the whole community beingheld together in the heart of the Beloved for three days. —Majid Middlebrooksphotograph by ShakuraSufi Ruhaniat International 11

On one of the afternoons when we met in the building with three walls, I was feeling chilly andI wanted to stand where the sun could warm my body, so I stood outside the open wall, looking intothe room. I described my experience of that afternoon to Ardvisura. She took the threads and wovethem into a poem....—Louise JacobusHere in arid Arizonain an open sided building, oneof our master teachers teaches,speaks of souls and wazifa,while a hushed hundred or so, listen.The wind whisks around us, outsidethe prayer flags flap and flutter,dance with a sudden flurry,a snap and ripple of soundsand brightly colored fabric.The wind blows crisp across the landas I stand near a pillar at the edgeof understanding. The breeze movesthe flags and carries my thoughts close in,where beside the mighty fireplace,Wali Ali ends his talk. He settles thereinto presence, his head tilting gently inward,like a figure in a fresco, held in contemplationand holy resonance. I notice then,as his voice stops, the wind dies down.Stillness comes to settle all around.The flags hang quiet. The breeze has leftand in its place, in the midst of livinglife, the world comes to finda fine and perfect balance, a beautifulserene bright stillness. We are,as nature, interwoven in truth.All action resolves into thisone still point of profound focus.—by Carol Ardvisura Griffin, May, 2009inspired by Louise Jacobus’ description of the 2009 Jamiat Ahm12 HeartBeat Summer 2009

On Hosting This Year’s Jamiat Ahmby Yaqin Lance SandlebenLike other great gatherings, this one began with Abraham, Abraham Sussman, that is. At the 2007Jamiat Khas, Abraham asked me if Prescott would like to host the 2009 Jamiat Ahm. I felt the immediatespark, like the first time I heard the name, “Sufi Sam.” I knew this was something to followup on, to learn about, to experience. When I returned to Prescott, I began spreading the idea amongour circle, officially known as Prescott Peace Dances and Sufi Circle. Others also felt the spark, andthe spark began to smolder. It took a few months of talking, asking questions, and getting feedbackbefore we decided by consensus (our way of working) to take on the task. As the Sufi sage said, itwas like shooting an arrow at a target we could not see.About fifteen years ago, some Prescott residents began attending the Mendocino Sufi Camp.At the same time, and independently, a zikr circle began at the home of a Sufi Order initiate, and acouple of other locals with musical talent started hearing the call of the Dances of Universal Peace.It wasn’t long before these three streams crossed, feeding each other. Like other circles, we formeda group to support the dances and Sufi activities, and began inviting teachers for weekend retreats.Our community grew. In the days when there were few opportunities for spiritual practice outsideof traditional Christian churches in our conservative cowboy town, the Dances flourished.Also like other circles, we went through growing pains, working with the nafs and shadow, andfinding opportunities still to this day to practice rising above “distinctions and differences which divide.”We have used agreement by consensus, and speaking and listening, as beneficial techniques.We are not affiliated with any one Sufi organization as our circle includes members of 3 Inayati lineages,as well as another Sufi lineage. Belonging to a lineage is not a requirement of participation.Love is, however.It seemed like when we were ready, then came the request to host the Ahm. We had never hosteda residential retreat and saw this as an opportunity to expand our capabilities. We each began tocarve out our work territory, with much overlap. We discussed possible themes and settled on LoveInward and Outward—strengthening love towards ourselves, embodying it, and spreading it out intothe world. For most of us, this was rather like the old story, “I asked God for strength, and God sentme barbells.” In the preparation for and hosting of the retreat, we were tested in unique ways, andthe experience itself became a profound lesson for us in manifesting love inwardly and outwardly.For our location, we found a camp owned by a Christian church but run by a family that resonatedwith our inclusive spirituality and had a special appreciation for the deepening that can happenat a retreat camp. They rose with grace to the challenge of our various dietary requests, whichresulted in menus quite different from their usual church camp fare. Though they might not use theterm themselves, they were karma yogis.The week the camp began, a cold front swept through Arizona. We were shivering as we movedtables, chairs and beds in preparation for our guests. We built a fire as we decorated the main hall.It began to snow lightly, but when people began to arrive, we were ready. With the fire cracklingin the fireplace, hot chai steaming, and warm cookies just out of the oven, we welcomed our muchanticipated guests, happy that over 100 people were coming from across the country to our home!We did a lot of work before and during the retreat, but when that first dance began, when we feltthis large and cozy group dropping in…our purpose was fulfilled.Our dear teachers Murshid Wali Ali and Murshida Leilah Be, with contributions from Pir Shabdaand Murshida Asha Greer, used teachings and practices that took us all deeply into the theme in»Sufi Ruhaniat International 13

ways that were beyond our hopes. The teachings ranged from connection to the infinite, to workingwith the inner planes. The music soared, the dances deepened, the baraka flowed. Each day grewwarmer and sunnier, as if to reflect the growing light of the retreat.There was a humorous incident at the beginning of the Ahm that summed it up for me. Wewere discussing the schedule—when classes would start, what were the mealtimes, what was themeditation time, when was raga, when would the tea ceremony occur, etc. Asha, without lookingup, pointed to a shiny circular object hanging above the fireplace. Thinking it was a clock, she said,“let us synchronize ourselves to that time.” Instead of a clock, it was a beautiful, burnished bronzerelief of a lion laying down with a lamb and the word “Peace” on it.Indeed, let us synchronize ourselves to Peace.With Love,Sheikh Yaqin Lance Sandleben and the rest of the Prescott Peace Dances and Sufi Circle Board:Majid Barbara Swain, Pati Jablonski, Taqi Bruce Tribby, Armaiti Nancy Ethridge, Barakat CarolynnBryan, and Daniel Wasserman photograph by Quan Yin Lynne WilliamsMurshida Asha Greer, Murshid Wali Ali, Sheikh Vakil Shomer, Pir Shabda KahnSheikha Darvesha MacDonald, Murshida Leilah Be14 HeartBeat Summer 2009

Iran and The Feather of the SimorghLetter From the Road, #36by Elias Amidon, June, 2009would like to step back for a moment from theI compelling drama occurring now in Iran to lookat this drama with a long-view question in mind:what does it tell us about the evolution of humanShahnameh, written 1,000 years ago by Ferdowsi,the most beloved of all Persian poets.The story goes like this: a baby was abandonedon a mountainside. His cries were heard byDemonstration at Azadi (Freedom) Square, Tehran, June 15, 2009societies? What does the conflict in present-dayIran reveal about what is seeking to be born on aglobal scale in the way we humans relate to eachother?To aid us in this long-view, let us turn to astory that is told in Iran’s great national epic, thethe Simorgh, the benevolent winged deity of vastpowers, who raised the baby as her own. When thetime came for the young man, now called PrinceZal, to rejoin the human world the Simorgh gifted»Sufi Ruhaniat International 15

the prince with three feathers which he was to useif he ever needed her help.And so it happened upon returning to hiskingdom that Prince Zal fell in love and marriedthe beautiful Rudaba. When the time arrivedfor their first child to be born, Rudaba’s laborwas prolonged and terrible. She was near deathwhen Prince Zal summoned the Simorgh forhelp. The Simorgh appearedand instructed Zal to traceone of the feathers acrossRudaba’s belly. He did so andthus saved Rudaba and thechild, and the child grew upto become the greatest of allPersian heroes, Rostam—“theworld brightening one.”Rudaba’s LaborI trust Ferdowsi will forgiveme for suggesting that thestory of the birth of Rostam mayserve as a parable for what isoccurring in Iran—and indeedthroughout the world—in thisperiod of human history.Rudaba’s—and Iran’s—long labor will not come to an end until the cycleof human violence comes to an end—the cycle thatreacts to violence and injustice with more violenceand injustice. For thousands of years this cyclehas recurred, preventing the birth of that whichwe long for: the possibility of living together inkindness, tolerance, and peace. This possibilityis “the world brightening one.” It is humanity’sRostam: no longer a singular male hero battlinginjustice, our Rostam is no less than the birth of thecapacity to relate to one another with open mindsand open hearts rather than from rigid positions.The seas of people now marching in Iran areseeking to end the long agony of Rudaba’s labor.They are responding to the regime’s oppressionnot with violence but with nonviolent civil disobedience,and, in many cases, in silence. This kindElias Amidonof profound nonviolent action is the Simorgh’sfeather being traced on Rudaba’s tormented belly.Its inherent gentleness is the only response thatcan release her from her long labor.It takes enormous courage to face oppressionwith kindness, to put a flower in the muzzle ofa gun. If Iranians can maintain this courage theywill change the course of history, joining the recentnonviolent movements that have toppled dictatorshipsin places like the Philippines,Serbia, Czechoslovakia,East Germany, Nepal, andelsewhere. A recent study hasshown that of the 67 transitionsfrom authoritarian regimes tomore democratic governmentsover the past few decades,these changes “were catalyzednot through foreign invasion, andonly rarely through armed revoltor voluntary elite-driven reforms,but overwhelmingly by democraticcivil society organizations utilizingnonviolent action and other formsof civil resistance, such as strikes,boycotts, civil disobedience, andmass protests.” (Stephen Zunes)The Simorgh’s feather: resilient and tender,its magical touch is the heart of the Golden Rule,the heart of the activism of Gandhi, King, andMandela, and the heart of the teachings of all thegreat prophets of humanity. It is the refusal toreact to violence with violence.What Can We Do?Two months ago during our journey throughIran we met a man named Ali working ina bazaar in the city of Shiraz. Ali was a veteranof the Iran-Iraq war, intensely proud ofIran and its central place in human history.“We have been an important part of the growth ofcivilization,” he said, “but now we are stranded.Our minds are stranded. We cannot communicatewith or travel freely in the world. People thinkwe are terrorists—look around you, do you see16 HeartBeat Summer 2009

terrorists? We are stranded, and no one knowswho we are.”I think of Ali and wonder if he feels lessstranded at the moment, with so much of theworld’s attention turned toward the events inIran. TV, radio, newspapers, the Internet, Twitter,Facebook—in countless thousands of ways peoplearound the world are taking part in the touch ofthe Simorgh’s feather as we bear witness to thenonviolent actions in Iran.Just as it is for every nonviolent movement,the role of the witness is crucial. “The wholeworld is watching!” we cry, calling forth thepower of shame that is heaped upon the perpetratorwhen an injustice is witnessed. Thisshaming is a curious thing, since it gets its powerfrom an innate ethic within us—the British wereshamed by having the world witness them beatingGandhi’s salt marchers, just as America wasshamed by the publication of the photos fromAbu Ghraib. The ruling clerics in Iran know thatwhen they are seen butchering protesters anyclaim the Islamic Revolution has of benevolencebecomes a lie.So what can we do, far from Iran? We can payattention. We can be at the other end of the tweetsand the YouTube videos. We can be the watchingworld as the Iranians marching in the streetssilently confront the guns of the military. In thisway we can act in solidarity with all Iranians—theprotesters and the ruling clerics and the Ahmadinejadsupporters and the military—helping allof us come to the aid of “the world brighteningone” that is being born.A Note About Our “Encountering Iran” Journey,October 5-19, 2009At this time the group journey we are planningto Iran in October is still scheduled to happen.Of course, our ability to get visas from theIranian Foreign Ministry depends on what happensin the coming weeks, and upon their comfortwith welcoming foreign travelers at this time.Currently there are 4 places still available for thistrip. You can find a description of the EncounteringIran journey at http://pathofthefriend.org/encountering-iran.pdf. You are most welcome tojoin us.Elias Amidon is Pir of the Sufi Way, one of our brother-sister Inayati orders.If you would like to receive the occasional “Letter from the Road,”the sign up form can be found at www.pathofthefriend.org Sufi Ruhaniat International 17

Initiationby Mirabai Wolf WillowI am shown the entry to the initiatory pathbut I don’t know which side of the door I am onAm I looking at what is before meor am I looking over my shoulder?Does one walk back and forth over this thresholdthroughout one’s life?Or is there one door and then anotherand anotherand anotherIs initiation an entry point—a placein linear time and space?Or is it a spontaneous moment of deep desireto awakenand then anotherand anotherlike flashes of lightning reaching for the ground?Mirabai Wolf Willow—July 16, 2008Guideby Mirabai Wolf WillowReach for me, pleaseLet your radiance wash over meLet me see myself in your eyesIn eyes that see none but the One—August 12, 2008 18 HeartBeat Summer 2009

Forty Years with Jaman—Love on the Path of CommerceA Response to lines of an “Alapa” from the “Vadan” of Hazrat Inayat Khanby Najat Roberts, June, 2009(“Alapa – Extemporization: A divine word in the form of advice.”)Word of Inayat: Is love pleasure, is love merriment? No, love is longing constantly, love is perseveringunweariedly.Commentary: Some days this is actually work. I am weary, longing for more time with Jaman. I staythe course, finding what I need to do to keep me busy while he is working, often away from home.I persevere and find a twenty year career while he is ever working, doing his job and that of otherswhen needed. He gets it done! He helps others find jobs through his national network of contacts.Wow! How does he do that? We find compromise to satisfy the longing. We squeeze in a movie oran early dinner out if I can separate him from his computer or his Blackberry. (Is he doing tassawuriBarack Obama?) It was easier when it was just a simple cell phone. Is love merriment? It helps! Jamanmakes a point of making me laugh every day. Laughter gets us through.Word of Inayat: Love is hoping patiently.Commentary: Will he be home on time? Will that blessed Blackberry ever be turned off? It dingalingsconstantly and he seems wired to it. Will he remember to feed the cats before he turns on the game ifI am not here? Oh, I realize they will badger him into it soon enough. Will he stay awake long enoughfor us to have a few minutes? Maybe not, but at least he is here, asleep in his chair. We laugh beforethe evening ends.Word of Inayat: Love is willing surrenderCommentary: I have been following this man around the western states for over forty years. Surrender?Certainly that is what it is. I want romantic comedy, he wants adventure. We see the adventuremovie first, then the comedy. Occasionally it is the other way around. He goes to China, I stay home.»Sufi Ruhaniat International 19

There have been a series of homes. I manage to learn the art of selling and buying homes to keep upwith his career moves. He is on the path of commerce, a one-man traveling sales force. Surrender isthe only option. And we laugh a lot. I mention “homes,” and he says, “Now you have all five of theGreat Lakes.”* We laugh some more.Word of Inayat: Love is regarding constantly the pleasure and displeasure of the beloved, for loveis resignation to the will of the possessor of one’s heart.Jaman and NajatCommentary: His grandmother said the three keys to a long-lasting marriage are: “Love, Trust, andCompromise in that order. Don’t mess it up.” I guess we don’t, at least not so far. I will sell and buythe homes, if you trust me, I say. I’ll cook your favorite dinner if you do the dishes. Then I’ll shop,if you cook my favorite meal. We laugh and make fun of the sharing of household tasks. There arecats that provide endless hours of entertainment in their feline way. It turns out his grandmother didalso say, “It’s good to laugh.”Word of Inayat: It is love that teaches man: Thou, not I.Commentary: “Whatever floats your boat, dear.” Oh, we are moving again? I thought we were donewith moving. Where are we going now? You are going to China again? Okay, the next adventureawaits us. There is an ongoing comedy of things that break when he leaves home for a business trip.What will break this time when he is gone? The water main blows out at the street twice; then thereis the water softener, shooting jets of water to the garage ceiling. An upstairs toilet leaks throughthe floor. And who can forget the time the water heater loses its bottom? Meanwhile those peskylandscape irrigation leaks never seem to end. I go into preventative maintenance mode. Thank GodI learn to be the family plumber! Laughter gets us through.Word of Inayat: Love that ends is the shadow of love; true love is without beginning or end.Commentary: That is for sure. It’s been nearly forty-two years and I cannot remember much about thetime before I became we. It is an eternity, and the laughter reverberates throughout, bouncing from placeto place, an echo with no beginning or end. Laughter keeps the love alive, and the other way around.*His apparent non-sequitur is an acronym mnemonic device for remembering the names of the lakes. 20 HeartBeat Summer 2009

The Holiest Shrine in Iran Is in Mashadby Mansur JohnsonIt’s really in God’s hands whether I get in.And Murshid’s too.I brought the robe.My intention is pure.We will see.Personal journal, September 22, 2000.What can I write during the 20 km ride to Ferdowsi’sShrine in Tus about the foreigner,me, who entered the Holy Shrine on Friday?From the air at night Mashad looks like whatit is, a city with a shrine at its center. The hub oflights is the Shrine complex, and the four mainstreets radiate like spokes from the center.When we got back from Nishapur, I requestedthat Hassan stop at my hotel. He was pumpedto ramrod my visit without a break, but I had todress properly.In my luggage for the last month was Murshid’srobe, bestowed on me in the late 60s. (I amassuming knowledge by the reader of this Murshid,my Sufi teacher, a member of the Qadiri,Naqshabandi, Sowarwardi, and Chisti Orders ofSufis, a man who associated with Sufis in Egyptand Pakistan, and introduced “Sufi Dancing” tothe United States. I spoke about him in an earlierchapter, “Romans and Sufis in Paris and Morocco.”)The robe was fabricated by one of Murshid’sfemale disciples to his specifications; it had to begreen, which Murshid said was Mohammed’scolor. It was a light green, similar to Abbas’ wife’spea soup colored coat.At the time I received this robe, part ofme, full of Zen stories about the bestowal of theteacher’s sacred objects on the most able student,thought it had monumental significance, whileanother part saw the bestowal of the robe merelyas recognition that I had been his secretary andchauffeur. Whichever or neither, I valued this robeover the years and was guided to bring it to Iran.Hassan was somewhat amused when Iemerged from the hotel wearing Murshid’s robe,because it didn’t fit. I’m not sure how tall Murshidwas, but the sleeves of his robe were several inchesabove my watch band. Lengthwise, the robe thatbrushed the top of Murshid’s shoes, ended aboutmid-calf on me. My light-weight purple sweatpants,which I wore under his robe, were snuggeddown to my faded white sneakers. On top I woreunder the robe a black t-shirt, since black in Iranis the color of the turbans worn by clerics who aredescended from Mohammed. My Film in Arizonahat, emblazoned with the Arizona seal (a goldstar with red and yellow striped emanations ona blue background), I wore backwards on myhead. I had one homemade olive wood tashbih(set of 99 prayer beads) around my neck, and Icarried another, which I used whenever I wasn’tperforming necessary functions, like checking mycameras before we could go in.Hassan explained that this camera practicehad been instituted after 1994, when an explosivedevice had been detonated inside the Holy Shrine,which, perhaps, had been hidden in a camera.Since then, No Cameras Allowed. I had Hassantake my picture in front of one of the entrancesto the Holy Shrine, the Haram-e Motahhar-e ImamReza, a name which encompasses everythinglocated within the holy circle. The guidebookinformed me, “this large circular walled islandin the centre of Mashhad contains two mosques,three museums, 12 lofty eivans or halls (two ofthem coated entirely with gold), six theologicalcolleges, two main and two lesser courtyards,several libraries, a small post office, a book shop,»Sufi Ruhaniat International 21

darkening his face with cork. I was envious ofByron who spent days reconnoitering the compound.The gold dome within the complex, thatI could see out the window at the end of the hallat my hotel, was never seen up close. But then,Byron wished to study the architecture, while Ionly want to visit the Holy of Holies.photo by Mansur Johnson © 2009, all rights reservedMansur Johnson in front of the shrineand many other religious and administrativebuildings. Beneath the complex is a vast cemetery[where] to be buried near the Emam is an honour.”I was indifferent to all but the part off-limit tonon-Muslims, the Holy Shrine.“The Holy Shrine itself is strictly closed tonon-Muslims (except under exceptional circumstances,with the special permission of the religiousauthorities), but it is not generally a problemto visit the rest of the complex. You will have todress extremely conservatively and behave yourselfimpeccably...” (IRAN, p. 228)At the next entrance, we were denied admittance.But Hassan talked, and a phone call wasmade. Permission was granted to enter and walkaround. That was all. Someone came with us. Wewere in, but not far enough. Robert Byron got intoo by disguising himself with native clothes andIt was Abbas in Shiraz who had concludedI was a dervish, although he pronounced it darVISH. “You are darvish,” he said after he saw mewalking with my tashbih in the shrine of ImamReza’s brother. Webster’s defines “dervish” as“a member of a Muslim religious order noted fordevotional exercises (as bodily movements leadingto a trance).”“Do you do prayers?” he asked, seeking tofind out what kind of believer I might be.22 HeartBeat Summer 2009

“We don’t follow Shariya,” (the Muslimpractice of saying prayers five times a day), I answeredhim. “We just repeat ‘Allah’ and ‘La il laha el Allah, Mohammedar Rassul Lillah.” It means,There is no God but God, and Mohammed is hisprophet. It’s the affirmation of faith for Muslims.Repeat that phrase before witnesses, and one maybecome a Muslim, which, incidentally, means, onewho submits to God.As we walked through the first large courtyardI began with Hassan, “Isn’t there somebodywe could talk to about going deeper, about possiblyvisiting the Holy Shrine.”Hassan engaged our guide in conversationas we walked through an inner courtyard, andweaved between two buildings into anothercourtyard.We found ourselves outside the ground flooroffice of the Shrine police.Before we entered, a group materialized fromsomewhere, and I’m chanting La il la ha el Allah,Mohammadar Rassul Lillah over and over in anaudible whisper, driving Hassan to distraction.“Just tell them I want to go in and repeat zikr,”(La il la ha el Allah), I council Hassan to assist withhis negotiations. But he was not answering me,and it was OK because he was very busy talking.It was necessary to remove our shoes to enter.A man with a white shirt and dress trousers wasbehind a desk; there was a uniformed police officer,and two others in the room.I sat silently in a chair before the desk whileHassan spoke for me, in what I would characterizeas aggressive tones. He was back and forth on hiscell phone, speaking to someone on the other end.After what seemed like a terribly aggressivetirade, I spoke in heart-centered Spanish to Hassan.“Con calma,” (Calm down) I said soothingly.“Con calma” (Take it easy; you’re being too aggressive).Suddenly it was finished. I say, “Thank you,”to the authorities gathered in the office with noidea what the outcome is.Hassan is still aggressive when he finallyaddresses me. “Put on your shoes,” he tells me.Hassan excuses himself to get a drink. I stilldon’t know the outcome.“We can go in,” he reports.I’m worried about going in with Hassan.With his leather hand wallet and pacing manner,he looks just like a tour guide, not a devotee.When we first entered, a sweet pair, one talland one short, of roving Shrine police approached.Hassan said they asked if I was Muslim. He toldthem yes. They reminded him it was Friday, saidthe International Office is closed, and that theycouldn’t allow me inside. Hassan gave them thenumber of the Security Office, and suggestedthey call to verify that we had permission. Theywent away.After checking our shoes, Hassan cautions,“Just go up to the cage,” which I understood tomean, Just go up to the window with decorativelattice work.There’s a basketball court-sized room, whichhas the cage-like windows with diamond spaces,which separate this outer chamber from the Holyof Holies.I wasn’t paying attention to detail, so I’llresort to the guidebook, which says, “The tombbox in the Holy Shrine is 10m long with stunninggilt edges, and is enclosed in a large gold latticedcage. Pilgrims ritually touch or even kiss the cage,often then retreating into a pitch of near frenzy.The shrine built over the tomb has a shimmeringgilded cupola and single minaret and a vast tiledeivan.“Do not attempt to enter the Holy Shrine unlessyou are a Muslim, and can prove it (probablyin Farsi [Persian] if asked.” (IRAN, p. 230)“I want to go in,” I answer Hassan.“I’m worried for you if you go.”I suspect he’s really worried about himself.He’s the imposter here. I find a place outside thecage, outside the inner sanctum, and do a littlefikr of the zikr, mentally repeating La il la ha el ilAllah Hu.Then I tell him, “You wait for me here, I’mgoing in.” He’s worried and frightened for me,but he agrees.»Sufi Ruhaniat International 23

Surrounding the bier, which is in the cagethe guidebook writes about, must have been acrowd about four or five deep. The energy was abit hysterical. I had no reason to push through thecrowd. It could be dangerous if someone recognizedme as a foreigner. The energy was the kindof frenetic energy that could manifest Hassan’sworst fear, and inspire a mob to tear me apart ifsomething set them off.I moved through the crowd and found aplace against the wall, marble walls, marble floors,mirror work above the wainscoting up to andcovering the ceiling. Crystal chandeliers hungdown. Giant blowers situated on massive squarepillars blew in fresh cool air from vents. The noiseof these blowers was so loud, appreciation of theinner sound was blotted out by external mechanicalnoise.After another 33 times fikr of the zikr against awall near the inner tomb, I found Hassan. “Let’sgo,” I said succinctly.Walking away the hysteria died down, andI saw I could circle an area inhabited mostly, butnot entirely, by women. I tell Hassan, “Sit here,and I’m going to walk around.”It is after my first time around that I seeHassan pacing with wallet in hand, and I becomeworried that his behavior will call attention to me.“You look more like a tour guide than adevotee,” I tell him. “Please go outside and waitfor me.” Only then does he sit.Next time around, I see Hassan sitting chastisedagainst the wall. At last he looks like a devotee,but with a pained look on his face.When we leave, there is another encounterwith Security. The Door Keeper, who was busyreading Holy Qur’an when we passed, followedus to the middle of the courtyard, which was justoutside the Security Office, on our right. Hassansaid the man apologized when he repeated thatwe had permission and for him to ask at the officeif he didn’t believe him.Since I promised to keep Hassan’s secret, Iwould be unable to tell Abbas (of Tehran) why theHoly Shrine only came in third in the atmosphericsweepstakes, behind the Shah Cherag Mosqueand Hafiz’s Shrine in Shiraz, but in front of Ester’sTomb in Hamadan, Saadi’s Monument in Shiraz,and, lastly, Daniel’s Shrine at Susa.Another factor in the Holy Shrines’ thirdplace finish was the roar of the blowers; moderntechnology detracted from the sanctity of theplace, which, without the noise, should be hummingfrom the devotional energy of 12 millionvisits a year.EpilogueAbbas will meet me tomorrow DAY 14 atthe airport in Tehran, and chauffeur me to theArchaeological Museum, where I will seek aninterview with the Director for the purpose ofviewing the Hasanlu Bowl; I see the Director, andhe denies my request because he is about to shipthe Hasanlu Bowl to a museum in Belgium.We find the Carpet Museum, where I will violateregulations and photograph several carpets.There is an excellent lunch, which I willpraise with false indignation, “I had to wait twoweeks to get a lunch like this!”I have some time back at the hotel before anearly bedtime to contemplate from the roof theformer U.S. Embassy across the street, renamedby Iranian student radicals, “The Den of Spies.”I will await a midnight wake-up call, whichnever comes; nevertheless, I will be at the airportthree hours before a 4:15 flight to Istanbul on DAY15, where Abbas, hoping to get all my spare rials,fails to bring change, as agreed, and only has aU.S. 10 dollar bill.In addition, he lies, and tells me not to change30,000 rials ($3.75) because I’ll need it inside,which I accept, imagining there is a Departure Tax.Still and all, I get his $10 with another 30,000rials ($4.75) and six more U.S. dollars that I happenedto be carrying. He didn’t count on that.Inside, spending 29,000 rials on a can of pistachiosfor Marianne, I am amazed that Abbas caredso little about what I think of him that he’d ruinhis reputation with me for a few rials.24 HeartBeat Summer 2009

I also wonder if the new pen from me in anenvelope for his daughter will be delivered, orwhether three chapters of Travels with Mariannepublished folio-style, which he rolled up beforewalking away without changing expression, orsaying “Thank you,” were deposited in the firstgarbage can?Cultures clash, and I am left to stew aboutit. The flight leaving Tehran is one half hour late.Some passengers did not pass passport control,and their luggage has to be removed. Thank God,I am free to leave. It has been a remarkable trip.Pages 350-357, Travels with Marianne, by MansurJohnson © 2009, All rights reserved.Mansur Johnson 520.742.4450 phone/faxmansurjohnson@hotmail.com Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan on horsebackSufi Ruhaniat International 25

The Inayati Family: Just How Big Are We?by Aslan Sattler, June, 2009On September 13, 2010, it will have been 100 years since Inayat Khan left India to spread therevolutionary notion of the universality of the spiritual ideal, and to call forth a new era of spiritualliberty based upon the awakening of humanity to the divinity within. Enjoined by his murshidMohammed Abu Hashim Madani to spread this Sufi message to the western world, Inayat Khan leftIndia on September 13, 1910. He spent the next 16 years traveling among three continents, tilling thesoil of the human condition and planting these seeds of wisdom to the best of his ability. In 1926 hereturned to India and, after a brief illness, he died there on February 5, 1927 at the age of 44. HazratInayat Khan’s life touched thousands as he traveled through the United States, England, centralEurope, Scandinavia and Russia, teaching and initiating mureeds onto the path of the Sufi Messageand into the Family of Universal Sufism.After his death, the Inayati family tree experienced the emergence of several distinct branches,each based on Hazrat Inayat Khan’s teachings yet unique in their identities and subcultures. Fordecades many of us in the Ruhaniat have known the Sufi Order and the Sufi Movement as two otherbranches of this family. For various historical reasons, interaction between these orders becamesomewhat compromised, and as families do over time, we grew apart.About ten years ago in Europe a significant event occurred. Members of the Soefi Contact, abranch of the Inayati Family located in Haarlem, Netherlands, met with the International Sufi Movementand put forward the idea of creating an umbrella organization that would embrace the entireInayati Family. The purpose of this loosely organized structure would be to help the various ordersget to know each other better and enhance our ability to continue bringing Hazrat Inayat Khan’s visioninto being. This idea was next presented to the Ruhaniat, and shortly thereafter the Federation of theSufi Message was born. Other Inayati Orders were contacted. The Fraternity of Light soon joined theFederation. The Sufi Order International is currently on the threshold of joining. The Sufi Way, whilenot joining the Federation, has consistently interacted with the organization since its conception.Last year the Federation Council promoted a simple project that proved quite informative. Werealized that we didn’t have a good idea of the current size of the Inayati Family nor of the extent ofits geographical distribution, so we set out to gather that information. Membership data was gatheredfrom the 5 orders primarily involved with the Federation, asking only for the current numberof initiates and their geographic location by country. For those living in the USA, we also asked formembership by individual state. The information was then collated via Excel spreadsheets, and aGoogle Earth file was created to better display the distribution of Federation mureeds around theworld. The results of this endeavor are noteworthy and it is the purpose of this brief article to sharethem with you.A Brief Summary:Total Number of Mureeds represented: 9, 188Total Number of Countries represented: 52Total Number of States represented:50 (Includes D.C., but not N. Dakota)26 HeartBeat Summer 2009

Federation Membership by Nation - 2008ISM = Intnl. Sufi Movement SRI = Sufi Ruhaniat Intnl. SOI = Sufi Order Intnl.FOI = Federation of Light SC = Soefi ContactISM SRI SOI FOI SC TotalArgentina 5 1 6Australia 47 16 44 107Austria 130 130Belgium 19 4 6 29Bosnia-Herzegov. 4 4Brazil 3 29 4 36Canada 117 41 529 687Chile 7 7Columbia 82 1 83Costa Rica 1 1 2Croatia 1 1Czech Republic 5 5Denmark 1 1Ecuador 92 92Egypt 1 1Estonia 8 8France 4 5 251 260Germany 30 106 851 987Greece 2 1 3India 2 6 8Ireland 1 1Israel 1 4 5Italy 60 1 2 63Japan 3 3Jordan 1 1Kenya 1 5 6Latvia 27 1 28Lithuania 1 1Malaysia 3 3Mexico 10 3 13Morocco 2 1 3Netherlands 509 12 292 89 902New Zealand 13 10 37 60Nigeria 5 5Norway 2 2 27 31Pakistan 10 10»Sufi Ruhaniat International 27

ISM SRI SOI FOI SC TotalPeru 1 1Philippines 1 1Poland 17 1 7 25Russia 66 50 1 117Singapore 1 1Slovenia 1 1South Africa 5 1 6Spain 6 3 9Sri Lanka 1 1Suriname 14 14Sweden 3 1 4Switzerland 15 8 19 42Turkey 2 2Ukraine 1 1United Kingdom 29 69 450 548United States 67 1317 3384 55 4823Total Countries: 28 32 33 3 1 52Total Mureeds: 1,243 1,708 6,091 57 89 9,18828 HeartBeat Summer 20092008 Federation Membership by State in USA“States” include Washington, DC. So it’s possible to have members in 51 States.Totals by State SRI SOI ISM FOLAK 9 AK 3 AK 5 AK 1 AKAL 24 AL 1 AL 23 AL ALAR 54 AR 20 AR 34 AR ARAZ 110 AZ 30 AZ 80 AZ AZCA 852 CA 347 CA 479 CA 26 CACO 122 CO 38 CO 84 CO COCT 58 CT 7 CT 51 CT CTDC 17 DC DC 17 DC DCDE 3 DE DE 3 DE DEFL 201 FL 16 FL 181 FL 1 FL 3GA 63 GA 7 GA 56 GA GAHI 108 HI 77 HI 31 HI HIIA 11 IA 4 IA 6 IA IA 1ID 25 ID 18 ID 7 ID IDIL 77 IL 19 IL 57 IL 1 ILIN 16 IN 8 IN 7 IN 1 INKS 43 KS 19 KS 20 KS 4 KSKY 11 KY 2 KY 9 KY KYLA 20 LA 4 LA 16 LA LAMA 242 MA 23 MA 218 MA 1 MAMD 86 MD 6 MD 79 MD 1 MDME 56 ME 6 ME 50 ME MEMI 66 MI 7 MI 59 MI MIMN 51 MN 14 MN 33 MN 3 MN 1MO 85 MO 64 MO 7 MO 12 MO 2MS 3 MS MS 3 MS MSMT 31 MT 21 MT 10 MT MT

Totals by State SRI SOI SMI FOLNC 107 NC 28 NC 78 NC NC 1ND ND ND ND NDNE 7 NE NE 7 NE NENH 58 NH 8 NH 50 NH NHNJ 58 NJ 11 NJ 44 NJ 3 NJNM 152 NM 50 NM 99 NM 1 NM 2NV 18 NV 3 NV 15 NV NVNY 490 NY 28 NY 460 NY 2 NYOH 122 OH 14 OH 63 OH OH 45OK 16 OK 9 OK 7 OK OKOR 305 OR 179 OR 121 OR 5 ORPA 82 PA 12 PA 70 PA PARI 29 RI 4 RI 25 RI RISC 16 SC 5 SC 11 SC SCSD 1 SD SD 1 SD SDTN 24 TN 3 TN 19 TN 2 TNTX 188 TX 17 TX 171 TX TXUT 14 UT 9 UT 5 UT UTVA 132 VA 46 VA 86 VA VAVT 98 VT 4 VT 94 VT VTWA 369 WA 88 WA 278 WA 3 WAWI 66 WI 18 WI 48 WI WIWV 7 WV 1 WV 6 WV WVWY 2 WY 1 WY 1 WY WYUnknown 18 Lost Addr 18 Lost Addr Lost Addr Lost Add#States: 50 # States: 45 # States: 50 # States: 16 # States: 7#Membr: 4823 # Membr: 1317 # Membr: 3384 # Membr: 67 Membr: 55It is of note that these numbers do not include those members of the DHO who are not initiatedin the Ruhaniat, members of the Sufi Way, Sufism Reoriented or the International Network for theDances of Universal Peace. The information reflects membership data gathered between May andAugust 2008.Pir Elias Amidon of the Sufi Way responded, “The Sufi Way—its headquarters in France—isthriving as a small organization dedicated to the ineffable task of providing opportunities for spiritualawakening, along with some opportunities for service to the world. While it maintains its identity asan initiatic tariqah in the Inayati tradition, it understands itself to be a training ground rather thana membership group. As a result it cannot reliably count its initiates since it understands initiationas a living process that cannot be counted. It currently has students and mureeds in nine countries.”As the World Turns: The Traveling SufiOne advantage of having family in other states and countries is that when we travel we canmake contact and enjoy each other’s company. For example: Traveling to Ohio this summer? Wantto hook up with some Sufis while you’re there? Well, Ohio has over 100 Inayati initiates, including45 from the Fraternity of Light, 63 from the Sufi Order and 14 from the Ruhaniat. You can get morespecific information by contacting the secretaries of the orders involved, using the information providedbelow. The Orders’ websites contain further contact information should the secretarial contactinformation become outdated.Sufi Ruhaniat International: www.ruhaniat.orgSecretary: Amrita Skye Blaine, ruhaniat@mail.com»Sufi Ruhaniat International 29

International Sufi Movement: www.sufimovement.org;Membership Secretary: Safa Hull, safa@cumdeo.netGeneral Secretary: Shaikha Hamida Verlinden, sufihq@xs4all.nlSoefi Contact: www.soefi-contact.nl/Secretary: Johannes Molenaar, marhannes@quicknet.nlBackup contact: Kadir Troelstra, jell.troelstra@orange.nlFraternity of Light: www.sufiorder.org/cgi-bin/center_info.cgi?id=82Secretary-Trustee: Teresa Grant, Sufiheart@aol.comMoinuddin Clarke, President, moinuddin.clarke@worldnet.att.net, Christopher.Clarke@va.govSufi Order International (pending Federation member): www.sufiorder.orgSecretary General: Suhrawardi Gebel, sg@sufiorder.orgSufi Way: www.sufiway.orgContact: Dahan Bakker, info@sufiway.org, +33 3 44 49 21 05For the past ninety-nine years the Inayati Family has grown and grown, spreading the transmissionof Hazrat Inayat Khan across the planet. It’s important that we keep in touch with each other as wecontinue to do this work. We need each other. May this information help us do so more easily.An electronic version of the Federation database including the Google Earth file showing the global distributionof the Federation may be obtained by contacting Aslan.Sattler@gmail.com. Please put the word “Sufi”somewhere in the subject line. source unknown30 HeartBeat Summer 2009

Morning Prayerby Mary Flowers, January, 2009awaken this morning to find in my bed, on my cushion,I floating in the air around me, the multi-coloredthreads of yesterday’s longing.Carefully, I gather and weave them togetherin a prayer shawl of today’s intention.Wrapping it around me, I dress for the feast of union.I will bow again, sit again, pray again, walk again.Today, like yesterday and tomorrow,I place my deepest desirefor union with you, Beloved, andfor the awakening of self and all beingsin the palm of my heart.Thus, I begin to gather the ingredients for our feast.Our feast, you say? Oh, yes, you are invited, too. Please come.Mary and Tara and Jemanja, along with a host of deities and dakinis,have already arrived and taken their places round the great table.Come, and bring your friends, too.We’ll offer our sacred appetite and feast upon the Beautiful Names,Savoring their flavor in our mouths,Turning their sound as they begin to turn us,Swallowing their exquisite resonance and listening as the heartplays them,Dissolving and disappearing into the Great Light,Until only threads remainTo be gathered together on the morrowAnd woven once more into a prayer shawlOf Love’s longing to love her Self. Sufi Ruhaniat International 31

RemembranceBy Khushi TanveerAnnouncing the new Sufi Remembrance Website! This is meant to be a “virtual” memorial sitewhere members of all of the Orders derived from the inspiration of Pir-o-Murshid Hazrat InayatKhan, can share memories of Beloveds who have walked in the footsteps of our Sufi Master and whohave crossed over to the unseen realms.The Remembrance website is set up in blog format. There is a personal page for each mureedwho is known to have passed on. Their page is indexed alphabetically by first name within theirprimary sufi order. Each page has a place for comments. You, members of the Sufi community, areinvited and encouraged to visit the site, and post memories of those whose lives have touched you.The initial page information for many mureeds is scanty. Sometimes there is just a name, whichcalls out for biographical information, pictures, dates of birth and death. Anything you might haveto contribute to anyone’s page is most welcome.To view the website, go to http://www.remembrance.sufipaths.net The homepage instructs youhow to use the website. You can search for anyone by name in the search box, or click on an Order tofind someone. Once you arrive at a person’s page, scroll down to the Leave a Memory box and enteryour posting. When you are finished, click on “submit comment.”All submissions are moderated. After submissions are reviewed and approved, they will appearon the site.One day in September 2007, I received an e-mail from a friend in Belgium letting me know thata Dutch mureed had passed on. Karima’s death touched me deeply. I had met Karima only once,in 2003. My husband Shaffee and I had traveled to Europe to attend the first Sufi Ruhaniat camp tobe held on that continent. We were casting about for a ride from Holland to Germany, and Karimavolunteered to transport us.It was a drive of several hours, and so we had plenty of time to get to know each other as wesped along the autobahn in her tiny car, packed to the gills with people and luggage. During thecamp we spent some lovely heart time together, and again, after camp, Karima transported us backinto Holland.So it was with great sadness that I learned that a heart condition brought her to her death. Iremember thinking, ... “Karima is going to pass into oblivion and no one will remember her.”Two weeks later during the first day of a retreat, I found my thoughts returning again to Karima.There was a moment during the wanderings of my mind when I was struck with the inspiration tocreate a repository to share memories of mureeds who have passed from this plane to the next. The32 HeartBeat Summer 2009

Guidance was very clear: the remembrances were to be for all mureeds who trace their spiritual inheritanceto Pir-o-Murshid Hazrat Inayat Khan.Khushi TanveerWith this Guidance I realized that this place of Remembrance would allow our entire Inayaticommunity to memorialize our teachers, and our brothers and sisters on the path, assuring that awhiff of the perfume of all of these Beloveds would waft on through some unknown amount of time.Now, more than eighteen months later, it gives me great joy to share with you the manifestationof that Guidance. I had never attempted to create a website prior to this, and so there was a steeplearning curve. But the power of Guidance is strong, and I persevered, even through long fallowperiods of despair of ever being able to master WordPress!It is my greatest hope that you, members of this blessed community will visit the Remembrancesite, and tarry long enough to share memories of those dearest of souls who have touched you withtheir Being.The Remembrance Project http://remembrance.sufipaths.net Najat Robert’s tashbiSufi Ruhaniat International 33

Sufi Ruhaniat InternationalFinancial Report 2008Income: $208,815Investments $5,863 Publications $8,979Investment Tithes$25,000MureedContributions$82,256Gifts & Tithes$35,206Jamiats $3,024Restricted Funds$48,487Expenses: $286,205Employee Payroll$28,978Wali Ali Stipend$17,500Offices $17,447Contributions &Donations $21,059Activities $24,503Pir Stipend $38,700Publications$22,169Health Insurance$11,653Living Stream$24,736Restricted Funds$79,46034 HeartBeat Summer 2009SRI Liquid Assets 12/31/2008: $118,393

SRI Liquid Assets 12/31/2008: $118,393"In The Garden"Fund $8,250Restricted Funds$13,592Ruhaniat Assets(unrestricted)$96,551The financial picture of the Ruhaniat changed significantly in December 2008 when we learnedthat the investment of the Endowment fund was lost. This was due to the collapse of the Madofffunds where it was invested. Additionally, we lost a significant income stream from tithes from aMadoff-related investment vehicle.The Ruhaniat was depending on this income for a number of its activities. The trustees adopteda budget for the first 6 months of 2009 supporting only the basic needs of the organization and thishas been extended for the rest of 2009. With the support from its members this budget is so far beingmet. The generous response of our community in this difficult time is appreciated beyond measureand allows the “mothership” to remain afloat. However, the level of support is not yet enough tostart adding back expenses for activities that were halted.The pie-charts show the income and expenses for 2008 and because of the significant changesare not indicative for 2009.In recognition of the financial blow to the Pir, the board voted to support him without reductionin compensation or benefits for 2009.• The secretariat and treasurer are being maintained.• The archivist position was defunded.• Wali Ali took a 33% cut and retained the use of the Mentorgarten for his family.• Shabda’s assistant’s time was cut in half.• Wali Ali’s assistant volunteered to volunteer until such time as the financial picturemight provide support for that position.• The two California office expenses were cut in half as well.• The contract with Axiom to develop and host the archives website was renegotiated.• Jamiat Ahm and Jamiat Khas gatherings continue to have support.The Mureed Emergency Fund continues to be effective to support mureeds in emergencies. Theguarantee that $5,000 will be available each year in this fund is still in place. Donations specificallyfor this fund also keep coming in.»Sufi Ruhaniat International 35

There is strong support from the membership dedicated to the Hope Project as well, allowingus to continue to share in this service in India.The renewed website www.ruhaniat.org was recently launched.The beautiful re-publication of In the Garden with Murshid Sam is now available from oursecretariat.The trustees are committed to adopt a balanced budget for 2010. Pir Shabda has agreed to takea pay reduction of $5,000 in that year and Wali Ali has foregone his health insurance for the secondhalf of this year and ongoing as necessary to meet this budgetary commitment. Sufi Ruhaniat International Board of Trustees MeetingToward the One United With AllThe Board of Trustees met via conference calls on April 1 & 8 2009, with Pir Shabda presiding.1-Apr-2009 Conference CallBOT Members Attending: Pir Shabda Kahn, Tansen Phillip O’Donohoe, Abraham Sussman, Asha Greer,Basira Beardsworth, Fazl Terry Peay, Karim Baer, Jammalluddin Akhbar Ira Zunin, Yasmin GermaineHaut, Diana Lyon. Others Attending: Boudewijn Boom, Samia Bloch, Farrunnissa Lila Rosa.The meeting opened with the Invocation at 1:05 PM ET. Pir Shabda expressed thanks for everyone attendingand offered that we aspire to follow Inayat Khan’s advice to be “resigned to the past, holding fastin the present, and hopeful for the future.”1. Bylaws Change: It was discovered that previously-approved text had not been added to the currentversion of the Ruhaniat Bylaws. This text stated that Board members may not serve on the Board longerthan 2 consecutive 3-year terms, but could return to the Board after a hiatus of 1 year. After discussion,the Board agreed to also include this amendment: “If after 2 consecutive terms the Board member isdeemed by the Pir to be necessary to the Board, the Pir may choose to keep the member on the Boardfor a longer time. The Board must approve this action by a majority vote.” After more discussion,the Board decided to meditate on this change and discuss in next week’s conference call.2. Financial Report: As previously agreed, the Board reviewed the greatly reduced 2009 budgetto consider whether any changes in direction were needed to keep the organization on track.Boudewijn noted the mureed contributions are down from last year, and recommended keepingthe budget as approved, which would still result in a net $14,000 deficit for the first half of 2009.There’s not a sufficient income stream at this point to support adding anything back into the budget.Any additions would result in a greater than $30,000 deficit for 2009. The Board discussedat length options for applying for grants to create additional revenue streams. Grants are oftenapproved only for special projects or for start-up funding, and the Living Stream archive projectnow with no 2009 funding was brought up as a good candidate, as it could possibly fit in both36 HeartBeat Summer 2009

categories. The Board also discussed a 2nd mortgage on Khankah S.A.M. as a possible revenuestream. At Pir Shabda’s request, the Board reconsidered reinstating the funding for giving TheRuhaniat Companion to new mureeds. It was agreed to begin providing a PDF file to all newmureeds by email, along with information on how they could order a hardcopy version for thecost of production, shipping, and handling.The meeting was adjourned at 2:12 PM ET with throwing our arms up into the sky and saying “YaHu!”8-Apr-2009 Conference CallBOT Members Attending: Pir Shabda Kahn, Abraham Sussman, Samia Bloch, Asha Greer, BasiraBeardsworth, Fazl Terry Peay, Karim Baer, Jammalluddin Akhbar Ira Zunin, Yasmin Germaine Haut, DianaLyon. BOT Members Absent: Tansen Phillip O’Donohoe. Others Attending: Boudewijn Boom, FarrunnissaLila Rosa.The meeting was convened at 1:05 PM ET with saying the prayer Nayaz.1. Financial Report, continued: A proposal to continue the budget in its current form for a maximumof 6 more months, through end of calendar year 2009 was passed by consensus. A proposal for theBoard to commit to creating a balanced budget starting in January 2010 was also passed by consensus.It was agreed that Pir Shabda’s stipend would be reduced by $5,000 for 2010, noting that for2009 he needed steady support after his own financial losses. The Board again discussed options fortapping existing assets such as Khankah S.A.M. for new revenue sources; for example getting a loanagainst equity or opening a credit line, all as interim measures while we rebuild our income stream.The Board approved a proposal to set up a task force to examine all options for establishing incomestreams from existing assets. Boudewijn, Samia, and Pir Shabda will serve as the task force, with Fazland Jammalluddin Akhbar to advise as needed, and will present options and recommendations tothe Finance Committee. Selling any real estate will not be considered as an option.2. Grants: Asha noted that Retha Sophia Wright, who has written grants professionally, has volunteeredto apply for grants on behalf of the Ruhaniat. However, the current Ruhaniat mission statementshould be revised to be simpler and clearer in order to facilitate grant writing. Karim, Yasmin,Diana, and Asha will draft a new mission statement for Board and Murshid Council approval. Ashawill work with Retha Sophia to be sure she has the information she needs for writing the grants.3. Bylaws Change: The Board agreed to stand by their decision to include new text in the bylaws, seeTopic #1 from 1-Apr meeting, above. By Pir Shabda’s request, Abraham was asked to serve anotherterm on the Board, and agreed to do so.4. Mureed Packets: The Board revisited the decision to not fund sending The Ruhaniat Companion tonew mureeds, citing needing to look at the long-term strength of our lineage. It’s not really thatbig of an expense, and the mureed packets include a spiral bound Companion, back issues of Heart-Beat, and a CD of one of Pir Shabda’s talks. Based on 2008 actual expenditures, this expense is approx.$2,000 per year, with two-thirds of that going for overseas shipping. The Board voted to reinstatesending mureed packets to new US mureeds effective immediately, with non-US mureeds receivingthe information electronically.»Sufi Ruhaniat International 37

5. Board Member Terms: The Board is delighted that Asha has agreed to remain on the Board for a secondterm, and Abraham has agreed to serve a third term.Board Member Term Last Board Meeting PW Contact*1. Pir Shabda permanent member 3 rd contact2. 2. Diana 2 nd term Spring 20103. 3. Fazl 1 st term Spring 20100. 4. Yasmin 2 nd term Autumn 2010 2 nd contact1. 5. Jammalluddin Akhbar 2 nd term Autumn 20104. 6. Basira 1 st term Autumn 20102. 7. Karim 1 st term Autumn 20105. 8. Tansen 2 nd term Spring 20113. 9. Asha 2 nd term Spring 201210. 4. Abraham 3 rd term Spring 2012 1 st contact* Three members of the Board serve as contacts with Peace Works International to review minutesand stay current on goings-on.6. Upcoming Jamiats and Federation Gatherings: Jamiat Ahms are open to all Inayati mureeds andtheir significant others, as well as to members of Dance circles. Jamiat Khases are open to allInayati mureeds who are teachers, or on the track to be teachers by approval of their guide;spouses by prior approval. Federation meetings are open to the invitees of each participatingInayati lineage. Future dates and locations are: 2009 Jamiat Khas, Brotherhood Retreat Center near Seattle WA: Murshids’ Council, Oct 25- 28; Jamiat Khas, Oct 28 - Nov 1; Board Meeting, Nov 1 - 2 (Sunday 2 - 6 PM and 7:30 - 9 PM,and Monday 9 - 12 noon). 2010 Urs Celebration, Dargah of Hazrat Inayat Khan, Delhi, India: Feb 5 - 6, hosted jointly by allInayati lineages. 2010 Jamiat Ahm, Arcata CA: April 9 - 12. 2010 Federation Retreat, IONS Retreat Center, on the border of Sonoma and Marin Counties, CA:Apr 28 - May 2 (planned to be more of a camp, open to all). 2010 Jamiat Khas, Summit Center, Brown Summit NC: Murshids’ Council, Nov 7 - 10; Jamiat Khas,Nov 10 - 14; Board Meeting, Nov 14 - 15 (Sunday 2 - 6 PM and 7:30 - 9 PM, and Monday 9 - 12 noon).7. Ruhaniat Officers, Concentrations, and Committees:Pir Shabda Kahn Spiritual DirectorAmrita Skye Blaine SecretaryBoudewijn Boom TreasurerJammalluddin Zunin Chief Financial GuideConcentration Head(s)Esoteric School Wali Ali MeyerDervish Healing Order Saul BarodofskyKhilvat Asha GreerService of Universal Peace Mariam Baker, Khadija Julia Goforth, Khabir KitzZiraat Vakil Forest Shomer38 HeartBeat Summer 2009

Function/Committee Member(s)/Representative(s)Murshids’ Council Pir Shabda Kahn, Mariam Baker, Saul Barodofsky, Leilah Be, SaadiShakur Douglas-Klotz, Khadija Julia Goforth, Asha Greer, Khabir Kitz, Fatima Lassar,Wali Ali Meyer, Kamae Amrapali Miller, Gita Sophia Onnen, Allaudin OttingerEthics Council Abraham Sussman, Saladin Palfrey, Zubin GoldmanFinance Committee Boudewijn Boom, Fazl Terry Peay, Munir Peter Reynolds,Jammalluddin Akhbar Ira Zunin, Samia BlochFive-Year Plan Committee Munir Peter Reynolds, Tansen Phillip O’Donohoe, JammalluddinAkhbar Ira Zunin, Yasmin Germaine HautFundraising Committee Yasmin Germaine Haut, Karim BaerLiving Stream Committee Abraham SussmanYouth Council Asha Greer, Yasmin Germaine Haut, Diana Lyon, Latifa RosadoSiraj Council Mariam Baker, Saadi Shakur Neil Douglas-Klotz, Azima Lila Forest,Khadija Julia Goforth, Najat Patricia RobertsWeb Committee Abdul Shaffee Howard Ballinger, Basira Beardsworth, Asha Greer,Yasmin Germaine Haut, Pir Shabda KahnEuropean Community Liaison Tansen Phillip O’Donohoe, Abraham SussmanHope Project Representatives Richard Cuadra, Quan Yin Lynne WilliamsMedia Committee Yasmin Germaine Haut, Munir Peter Reynolds, Abraham SussmanKhankah S.A.M. Liaison Samia Jennifer BlochRuhaniat Publications Liaison Abraham SussmanRuhaniat Publications Visioning Committee Saul Barodofsky, Basheera Zorn,Amrita Skye Blaine, Boudewijn Boom, Saadi Shakur Neil Douglas-Klotz,Pir Shabda Kahn, Wali Ali Meyer, Munir Peter ReynoldsThe meeting was adjourned at 2:20 PM ET with all saying “Ya Hu!”Respectfully submitted,Farrunnissa Lila Rosa Recording Secretary Theme for Winter 2009/2010 IssueThe theme for the next issue of HeartBeat magazine is “Change.”What changes? What remains the same? We invite personal,intimate, whole-hearted responses, included at the discretion ofthe editor. Sufi Ruhaniat International 39

Available Ruhaniat PublicationsIn the Garden—just released!!This is the redesigned re-publication of a 1970’s classic, made new with MurshidaFatima Lassar’s beautiful drawings. It includes many stories of Murshid Sam, some ofhis writings, and poetry. Eight hardbound copies still available: $30 plus $5.00 shippingin USA, $7 to Canada, $12 overseas. It is available in soft cover as well: $16.95 plus thesame shipping charges as above.Saladin CD setSamuel Lewis’s epic poem Saladin takes us back to the historical moment of theCrusaders invasion of the Middle East, and the life of Saladin, a great twelfth centuryMuslim Sultan. Through his chivalry and spiritual realization, Saladin invites theresolution of religious conflict, and in so doing, reveals the mystical depths of Islam.This poem invokes spiritual guidance as a foundation of human morality. It is mostrelevant today as a model for tolerance and Peacemaking.Read by Wali Ali Meyer,it is accompanied by contemporary Sufi music.4CD set—$33 plus $2.50 shippingZiraat ReaderA compilation of papers, essays, practices, commentaries, and inspirations on Ziraat, illuminating “ourexperience of Self, of God, through understanding the Essence in the rhythms and manifestations of Nature.”Spiral bound. $20 plus $5.00 shippingRiver of Guidance CD—an interview with Pir Shabda KahnIn this wide-ranging interview, Pir Shabda chronicles with depth and heart his immersion into a multifaced life,reflections on his teachers, and the essence of the spiritual journey, including musical excerpts as performer, zikrleader, and teacher.CD—$15 plus $2.00 shippingLiving Harmony CDThe Ruhaniat & Friends Live in Madison. Recorded during the Jamiat Ahm 2006. Wonderful Zikr and Dancemusic and songs. A portion of the sales of this CD supports the Hope Project.CD—$15 plus $2.00 shippingSRI Esoteric Papers CDThis is an upgrade CD to the first version from 2000. The CD now includes all of Murshid SAM’s commentaries onHIK plus around seventy other esoteric papers. The Sufi Order International has given us permission to include“The complete works of Hazrat Inayat Khan” for which we are deeply grateful. The PDF files are indexed andsearchable on the CD. Also included is the “Ruhaniat Companion” (formerly the “Mureed Manual”).Available in three levels: Gatha/Githa (1-6 th ), Sangatha (7-9 th ), Sangitha (10 th ). Please specify your level ofinitiation when ordering.CD—$101 plus $2.00 shipping. Upgrade if previously purchased: CD: $15 plus $2.00 shipping. Your purchasesupports the Living Stream Project.40 HeartBeat Summer 2009

Greeting CardsBeautiful greeting card with gold-foil, embossed Ruhaniatheart and wings. Blank inside.Box of six cards and envelopes—$12 plus $2.50 shippingBox of twelve cards and envelopes—$22 plus $3.50 shippingTo order one item from inside the USA, please send check or credit card info with your order to:Sufi Ruhaniat InternationalP.O. Box 51118Eugene OR 97405To order more than one item or from outside the USA, please contact the Ruhaniat for shipping cost first:Email: Ruhaniat@mail.com Make a Donation of $1001, Support the Ruhaniat,receive this wonderful painting of Pir-o-Murshid Hazrat Inayat KhanMurshid Khabir Kitz has made a wonderful offer: if someone makes a donation to the Ruhaniat of$1001.00, they can receive the portrait of Pir-o-Murshid Hazrat Inayat Khan that Khabir painted. Theoriginal painting is egg tempura on a panel, and is 18" by 24" (45 cm by 60 cm). Sorry, this offer doesnot apply to generous donations already made....Contact the Secretariat at ruhaniat@mail.com, or phone 541-345-5223 if you are interested.Sufi Ruhaniat International 41

2009 Calendar of Eventsis now found on our new website!www.ruhaniat.orgAre You Moving?Please let the secretary know so we can update our mailing listruhaniat@mail.com