Beloved Family,

Back a little over a week from a deep and fulfilling visit with many of our Latin American family at Ecovillage Atlantida, which was followed by a few days of birding adventures, hosted by our dear Arjun Jorge Calero, the initiator of the Beyond Initiative bringing the Dances far and wide.

This past Sunday I enjoyed offering a Raga concert with Shariq Mustafa, grandson to one of the greatest Tabla Maestros from Mother India, Ustad Ahmed Jan Thirakwa at the Mentogarten. Our local Zikr Circle is this Thursday and left knee replacement surgery is scheduled for the following Wednesday, May 14th at 2:30PM. 

On a more serious note, my wife and partner of 51 years, Tamam, has been ill for the past six weeks with a lung infection. That has made me the chief chef, dishwasher, doctor visit chauffeur, etc. aside from the regular duties as the Pir! Finally, the prognosis is she will need to have the lower left lung removed and we are now awaiting a date from the surgeon. When we know the details, we will share them. Naturally all prayers gratefully accepted.

Spring is in full bloom here in our corner of paradise. Luckily I planted most of our vegetable garden before knee surgery and there should be an abundances of chard, kale, tomatoes, corn, broccoli, cauliflower and zucchini, along with avocados, pears, apples, peaches, figs, grapes, persimmons and plums.

My own healing process has a due date of traveling to Lama Mountain in late June for the Jamiat Aam with our wonderful next gen guides Baqia Diana, Maitreya and Arjun. And two weeks after that is our 51st Annual Mendocino Sufi Camp.

For our next wazifa recitation let us invoke the trio connected with Guidance – Ya Mulhim, Ya Hadi, Ya Rashid.

Much love,

Shabda

Wazifa Practice  

Recite 101x

YA MULHIM ~ YA HADI ~ YA RASHID

Ya Mulhim (yaa MOOL-him) 

The inner guidance that comes to one directly from the source without intermediation.

94. Ya Hadi (yaa haa-DEE)

Al Hadi is the most general and inclusive Name of divine guidance. It means the source of all guidance, and its guidance is for the whole of humanity, or a whole community of people. In societal terms, al-Hadi manifests in canonical guidance from a holy book and a structured religion. Repetition of Ya Hadi is especially recommended at the stage when the spiritual wayfarer is ready to actualize insights, to walk their authentic walk in life, to function in an integrated way, and to become a part of a spiritual community.

Al-Hadi is an invitation to remember God (dhikr) and to remove the coverings over our heart (kufraan) that cause forgetfulness. It offers the light of guidance that illuminates the way for humanity to overcome self-delusion, anger, and panic and to find the broad and balanced road, the straight way that offers patience and hope, and is life-giving water, hady(un). Al-Hadi represents an advanced stage in the process of awakening to guidance. It should be considered as part of a cluster of Names including ar-Rashid (98) and al-Mulhim. 

98. Ya Rashid (yaa ra-SHEED)

Ar-Rashid is the state of unerring guidance that is infinitely, and in an unlimited way, manifesting into each and every thing. The word for the one who is constantly evolving so that they can manifest this state is Murshid (mu-ra-sha-da). Ar-Rashid brings an established and clear consciousness that balances inner experience and worldly life.

To discern and communicate a wisdom that addresses the specific needs of individual souls, the quality of divine guidance must be brought into a particular focus. Ar-Rashid is the emanation of guidance that has the clarity and capacity to discern and communicate healing wisdom to all types of human beings. It brings hope to humanity, while its opposite, ghayy, leads to despair.

Ar-Rashid offers the nexus of balance between the unstructured nature of inner inspiration or guidance (ilham) and the structure of formal guidance (hudaa). Because of its quality of clarity, Ya Rashid can effectively be paired in repetition with several Names, including Ya Matin (54), Ya Hadi (94), and Ya Mulhim.

To hear the pronunciation: Ya Hadi ~ Ya Rashid

Text and Commentary to Study

This month we continue studying the Gatha: Kashf: Insight, Series II of Pir-o-Murshid Hazrat Inayat Khan with commentary by Murshid Samuel Lewis. Read pages 15 - 24

Click below to download

Kashf: Insight, Series 2

Jamiat Aam at Lama Foundation                  June 25-29

Mendocino Sufi Camp                          July 20-27

BIRDS OF COLUMBIA