Practicing The Presence by Shams

Practicing The Presence of The Infinite God: I am just beginning this practice in earnest. But I trust what Shahabuddin says, "It depends so much on Rhythm and Tone." First Consider Rhythm: Let me remember my state of being when on retreat. It is the 4th or 5th day and I am well into it. … Continue reading Practicing The Presence by Shams

Gifts of Spring

The Gift of Spring, the Element Wood In Nature After a long and dark winter season, the days are finally getting longer. The return of the life-giving light is fulfilling the long-awaited promise made at the winter solstice celebration. The increase in light is creating an atmosphere of confidence and hope. Now is the time … Continue reading Gifts of Spring

Gifts of the Seasons : Winter~The Element Water

Winter ~ A Season of Rest Daylight has given way to longer nights and there is a chill in the air. Flora and fauna have retreated into dormancy. The trees have dropped their foliage, eliminating what no longer is needed. Their tree sap, the precious treasure they want to keep for springtime, has been stored … Continue reading Gifts of the Seasons : Winter~The Element Water

Intro: The Gift of the Five Seasons

The Gifts of the Five SeasonsA Study of the Five Elements of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water Introduction:The Blessing of the Seasons:As part of learning how to survive on planet Earth, our ancestors observed how the lifecycle of plants and the food they provide, is dependent on the weather and therefore the cycle of … Continue reading Intro: The Gift of the Five Seasons

“Just more that left foot “

Shams has noticed we have had the same theme in Friday's class going for a while. How many times must we be pointed towards 'moving that left foot'. Yesterday he posted something that seemed to jump onto the page. It seemed to be a capstone for him. Does this mean you should also feel or … Continue reading “Just more that left foot “

Who Am I?

Ghassan Manasra recently spoke of the three types of mureeds. “There are those that think they know and do not know ~ Those that know they do not know. ~ And there are those that do not know and don’t know they do not know. ” These are not merely types of mureeds but they are the mode of learning each mureed is attached to. (Continues with HIK Quotes and Discussion)

The Impressionists painted from that place of ‘Stillness’~ that place of ‘Mystery’

Visual media helps us directly perceive 'The Unwordable' ~ The Unknowable'. Here we explore that place of being, that in-between place, that is 'The Mysterious'.<Note: Stillness is very akin to that in-between place. We could make up the story that it the Formless peaking out into the world of Form. But that is just a … Continue reading The Impressionists painted from that place of ‘Stillness’~ that place of ‘Mystery’

Are we habituated to self improvement in care of the body and mind ?

I was about to post several short Shahabuddin mediations from 2021 to help us go beyond our fears: of not being good enough, of getting sick, or of not having found my purpose etc. But then I realized there has been a shift away from the self improvement trail to something new. We are now … Continue reading Are we habituated to self improvement in care of the body and mind ?

Joe Miller helps us with this mystery that is ‘Nothing’

The words Joe used, "Why don't you Realize you are Nothing, then you can Realize Everything. This is true if you can get your Ego out of the way, so you can realize you are nothing I am speaking of, the Spiritual Reality its self. Then you will know what it is all about. You … Continue reading Joe Miller helps us with this mystery that is ‘Nothing’

The inner planes ~ What if they are an Actuality *

What if the inner planes were real? An Actuality. What if there is a place of everlasting connection that we all share. The first time I imagined the possibility that place could be real was first time I met Pir Vilayat. I had been to numerous of his meditation retreats but this was the first … Continue reading The inner planes ~ What if they are an Actuality *