February 2023 Message

Dearest Family,

Greetings of the Heart as the days are gradually getting longer here in the Northern Hemisphere!

We had a beautiful retreat in Costa Rica, which is also a heaven for birds. Now I am getting ready for many events in a row.

We start with the Sufi Sesshin, March 5-10, then Murshid Wali Ali’s Memorial Celebration, March 12. Next is India with our Living Wisdom Council putting on an event at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on and around World Water Day, leaving March 16 and returning March 27. Lastly a journey to Colombia April 1 - 15, for the Atlantida Eco-village Retreat.

Sweetly, our in person monthly Zikr Circle is growing with some 40 zakirs attending in February. Our next gathering is March 2nd with the new start time of 7:30 pm, before all my travels begin.

May your practice be deep and steady, your ability to weather all the changes in life be resilient and your realization and service grow daily.

Much love,

Shabda

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Wazifa Practice

Recite 101x

YA AZALIYY ~ YA ABADIYY

These are two Names of Allah beyond the 99 Names.

YA AZALIYY, the eternity, before time begins, free from the limit of a beginning, stops the mind that is unable to conceive a time without a beginning, which allows us to liberate from time, prior to mind. From the root 'to straighten.' To relieve being pressed for time.

YA ABADIYY, the Eternity, which is everlasting beyond the manifestation, which allows us to liberate from space, to liberate from objects. From the root dwelling in a place permanently, abiding continuously. To liberate from objects.

As a pair, it helps us break the limitation of time and space, since time and space are necessary to consolidate a 'self image,' allows us to liberate the self image, helps expand time and space. The invocation Ya Azaliyy, Ya Abadiyy can be an antidote for the way our lives are stuck by the pressures of time and space.

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Text and Commentary to Study

This month we begin reading Hazrat Inayat Khan's Gatheka on Mental Purification with commentaries by Murshid Samuel Lewis and Murshid Moineddin Jablonski

Read and contemplate Chapter 1, pages 1-14

Click here to download the document

Mental Purification Commentary

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Upcoming Events and Teachings

Sufi Sesshin in Healdsburg, CA March 5 - 10

Murshid Wali Ali Memorial Celebration March 12

Sufi Retreat at Atlantida Ecovillage, Columbia April 2 - 9

Save the Date

Lama Sufi Sesshin June 28 – July 2

Mendocino Sufi Camp July 16 – 23

Southwest Sufi Community Sufi Camp September 19 – 24