September 2018 Message

Beloved Family,

Just returned from a rich journey to the sacred land of Ecuador (Equator). We had a deep retreat for five days under the blessings and protection of two powerful mountains, the male mountain Imbabura, and female Cotacachi, the larger snow capped volcano. Our hosts Pablo and Gina brought us to one of the most beautiful retreat centers I have ever taught at, and Pablo also served as a co-teacher and principal translator.

I initiated two wonderful new mureeds; please welcome Fariha and Karuna.

After the retreat we adventured to the Antisana at 13,500 feet, watching condors and Cara Cara’s and marveling at the native flora. Then down to the cloud forest at 5000 feet where we saw hummingbirds and amazing tropical birds. We had the privilege of being guided by the top bird protector and expert of Ecuador Juan Manuel Carrion!

Returned home Sunday and leave this Thursday for Asheville, North Carolina for the weekend.

On Oct 5th I look forward to being with many of you at the Marin Headlands for our Mureeds Gathering. You can join still join us. Register now.

My next public offering will be a weekend in Maui, HI, Nov 30 - Dec 2.

And it is not too early to register for the beginning of the year Sixteenth Annual Sufi Sesshin.

If we can find a way to invite mureeds who are not attending to join a portion of the retreat we will inform you all.

Sending love and gratitude,

Shabda

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With the Jewish New year and the 10 Days of Atonement let us practice

101x YA HASIB YA TAWWAB

Ya Hasib (yaa ḥa-SEEB)

Al-Hasib is the action of accounting for the full meaning of everything. Nothing goes unrecorded and nothing is ever lost. It means taking full responsibility for one's actions, words, and even one's thoughts. To become completely accountable allows for a new beginning of what is possible. It brings realization. A root meaning of al-Hasib is to record a business transaction in an account book with exactitude and honesty. An advanced Sufi technique called muhasibah is an honest taking account of oneself while never forgetting that you are within the ocean of divine mercy.

Ya Tawwab (yaa tow-WAAB)

At-Tawwab is the forgiveness that enables you to turn away from grudges, and perceived individual defects, toward the perfection of Allah. It comes with the realization that the divine beloved is always turning toward you, continually offering a gaze of deep forgiveness and endless compassion. At-Tawwab conveys the real meaning of repentance, the turning from the limitations of the false self and toward the perfection of your immortal soul, which is not separate from the divine reality.

Realizing at-Tawwab involves giving up the attachment to being right. It means giving up self-righteousness and letting go of the grudge. It is to turn your face toward someone else with forgiveness and compassion. Like Ya Wadud, it consciously uses the densest elements of a situation as an inner impetus for transformation, and to turn toward God. Repetition of Ya Tawwab allows you to turn toward the divine face in every face. It is an antidote for clinging to, and identifying with, a wounded sense of self-deficiency.

Commonly translated as the Acceptor of Repentance, it has the root in the Arabic, tauba, turning. It can be understood as the Divine Forgiveness that allows us to turn from individual defect toward the Beloved, who is always facing us, continually (because of the double consonant WW) turning toward us. Many of you will recognize it as the third wazifa in the four wazifas of healing we have done before, YA GHAFFAR, YA GHAFFUR, YA TAWWAB, and YA AFUW

In the Jewish tradition, starting with ~ Rosh Hashannah - Jewish New Year - Yom Kippur - Day of Atonerment ~ Sept 17, 2018, we have what is known as the 10 Days of Tshuva, the 10 days between Rosh Hashannah, the Jewish New Year, and Yom Kippur, the tenth day known as the Day of At-one-ment. Tshuva, is the same root as tauba/Tawwab, which we translated in Arabic as turning toward Divine Light, and Allah continually turning toward us. This requires overcoming the attachment to our self-grasping, in other words not being attached to any particular view of ourselves, whether grandiose, exaggerated or demeaning, like self loathing, low self worth or esteem. Turning toward the light, which removes shadows, always feeling the love flowing toward you, no matter what your mistakes and accomplishments are.

It is a period where one takes an account of one's life - YA HASIB, opening one's heart and eyes to everything, even what may be uncomfortable to see. With the support of YA TAWWAB, this sheds light on what was previously in darkness or shadow.

It can be further understood that the mystics of old set up this ritual as a rehearsal for what in the Bible is called the "Day of Judgement." As Murshid Sam would often point out, it is called the DAY of judgement, not the NIGHT of judgement. In other words, it happens in the LIGHT. That is, in one of the stages after leaving behind this body, one gets a life's review in the LIGHT. I believe the phrase, "Day of Accounting," or "Day of Reconciling," rather than judging, would be appropriate. If one is turned to the light than there is no self loathing, just learning from one's mistakes. One does not feel cast out or separate from the Beloved.

To hear the pronunciation: Ya Hasib ~ Ya Tawwab

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TEXT and COMMENTARY to STUDY

For our reading this month let’s study this beautiful text by our friend and Sufi brother Pir Netanel Miles-Yepez. Click here to download the document.

1aRetreatCenter Our Beautiful Retreat Center in Ecuador