November 2023 Message

Beloved Family,

Greetings from a welcome rainy Monday in California! We just completed a deep three days of a Jamiat Khas Leaders Zoom Retreat with some 190 folks registered from 17 countries.

Even though we as a family are a speck in the big picture of Unfolding Reality, my heart is warmed and inspired to continue to aspire to loving kindness and compassion toward all and feel that there is strength and value to our family’s common efforts around the world.

Naturally, we wish for active peace not only in the Middle East, but everywhere, especially where anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim racism are widespread. We oppose hatred and condemn fundamentalism - including in each and all countries.

Having completed a month of reciting wazifas for protection lets now invoke a practice Maitreya led at the JK retreat - YA MUJIB - that all prayers are heard and answered - which also encourages us to be good “listeners”!

Further, having spent time at the JK retreat emphasizing the breathing practices that Hazrat Inayat Khan shared with mureeds, I would also suggest that this month aside from your normal practice of the Purification Breaths you add the practice of KASAB daily. Naturally, Inayat meant for us to do this every day for life but for now, let’s venture into one month.

KASAB is a form of alternate nostril breathing with sacred phrases that builds up capacity and strength. There are important teachings from HIK in the Githas on KASAB (the practice and the texts from the Githas Series 2 on Ryazat and also from Murshid Sam’s Commentary on those Ryazat Githas are below).

We had a lovely time with our Madison family, and being hosted by Murshid Rahmat and his wife Tasha, along with a few days of added birding. Next up is a visit to our Seattle area sangha, Nov 17-19 followed by time with our Maui ‘Ohana’ (sangha) Dec 1-3.

2024 brings us to Mother India for the URS of Hazrat Inayat Khan. Also mark your calendars for the Sufi Sesshin March 3-8, 2024 followed by a retreat in Guadalajara Mexico March 15-18, 2024.

With prayers for all beings in all realms for safety and ease,
Shabda
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Wazifa Practice

Recite 101x

YA MUJIB

44. Ya Mujib (yaa mu-JEEB)

Al-Mujib is the one who answers all prayers. This response to prayer matches the genuineness of the asking. The Qur'an says, “Call to me and I will answer you.” The imperative here is to act. Not knowing the time, manner, and place in which al-Mujib answers is actually a protection from getting trapped by our limited expectations.

A physical form of its root means to dig into a rock to reach water. Another form means to penetrate the blackness of the night like the light of the moon that, when it rises, renders clear what has been obscured. These physical meanings of the root of al-Mujib suggest that the act of asking in prayer is a light that penetrates your inner darkness of confusion and shines upon your own self, and in this way reveals what you are really asking for. This addresses the often-repeated question of why we should pray when God already knows what we need.

Invoking Ya Mujib is not simply seeking an answer; it means to pay attention and listen. If we are not listening, or are distant in our feeling, we may not be near enough to al-Mujib to receive the answer that is always there. Its repetition allows us to listen with our heart and hear God’s answers.

To hear the pronunciation: Ya Mujib

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Text and Commentary to Study

This month we focus on readings about Kasab found in Githas Series 2, number 6 in Ryazat. There are 2 documents, one by Pir-o-Murshid Hazrat Inayat Khan, page 29 and the other includes Murshid Sam's Commentaries, pages 25-30

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Upcoming Events and Teachings

Seattle Sufi Retreat November 17-19

Maui Sufi Retreat December 1-3

Mother India Pilgrimage February 1-10, 2024

Save the date

Sufi Sesshin at the Bishops Ranch, CA. March 3-18, 2024

Sufi Retreat Guadalajara Mexico March 15-18, 2024

Ongoing Local Monthly Gathering

Zikr in San Rafael One Thursday a month

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PHOTOS