God’s love is not other than nor separate from the love reflected between two hearts.
~ The Knowing Heart

We welcome your reflections on this theme.

Excerpts from the Glossary of Mevlevi Adab and Customs

Görmek: “To see.” This word means “to pay attention,” or show meticulous care towards something. For example: “He saw such and such person; see us a little, too.”

Görüşmek: “To see with each other (a mutual seeing and being seen)” (pronounced and sometimes spelled görüshmek). According to Mevlevîs, everything has a soul and human beings are obliged to show respect to everything that serves them. For example, in a mosque, a Mevlevî will first prostrate and kiss the place of prostration; then, when he stands up to do the ṣalāh, he and the place of prostration perform “a seeing with each other.” After he completes the ṣalāh, he again “sees with” the place of prostration, before standing up.

When going to bed, first a Mevlevî “sees with” the pillow, and then lies down. Then, when he is pulling the quilt over himself, he “sees with” that too, kissing its edge. Before he drinks water, tea or coffee, he kisses the glass: he “sees with” it.

A Mevlevî is forbidden to display something shameful or dirty. For this reason, after drinking tea or coffee, he makes a niyâz, “sees with” the dirty cup, kisses it, and hides it somewhere nearby. When the one who is serving comes and bows his head (baş kesmek) to the seated dervish who has finished his drink, the seated dervish covers the top of the cup with his left hand, “sees with” it, and presents it to the soul who is serving. The one serving covers the top of the cup with his left hand, “sees with” it, and takes it away.

When a Mevlevî takes a book to read, he or she “sees with” the book. After she finishes reading it, again she “sees with” the book and puts it lightly back in its place, never throwing or hurting it. She picks up the tasbīḥ (prayer beads) and “sees with” them, and when she has finished chanting, she “sees with” the tasbīḥ and puts them gently back in their place.

This practice applies to everything. . . .

In addition, when Mevlevîs simultaneously kiss each other’s hands it is called görüşmek. According to Mevlevîs, every human being is equal; there is no notion of inferiority or superiority. When a Mevlevî meets a friend on the Path, he takes his friend’s right hand in both of his hands, while his own right hand is taken in his friend’s hand. The thumbs are either left resting on the hands, or they are held upright so that their insides touch each other. The two bow slightly towards each other and simultaneously kiss each other’s hands. In this way, regardless of temporary things such as age, status, and knowledge, two souls have celebrated each other.

Gönül etmek: “To make heart.” This is a general term on the path of taṣawwuf. It refers to unseen help (himmet) from God, or from a saint a long distance away, or some other form of unseen, spiritual help. For example, one might say to someone, “Please make a heart, so that I may complete this book.”

Newly published interview and book recommendation

From the Peter Gould Interview Series:
In this conversation series, we explore design as a spiritual practice with creative leaders, spiritual teachers, and startup founders from around the world. Here, Peter Gould interviews Spiritual Teacher and Author, Kabir Helminski

Kabir Helminski’s wonderful book Living Presence has been a constant and treasured companion throughout my spiritual journey, with invaluable insights into mindfulness, consciousness, creativity, and much more. I spoke with Kabir about the relationship between design and spirituality, and the challenge of being heart-centered in an increasingly digital world.

“There’s a conscious understanding of proportions, and an innate, intuitive understanding of the beauty of proportions,” smiles Kabir Helminski as I ask him about the relationship between design and spirituality, and how inner coherence and outer beauty are intertwined.

“If we are coherent in ourselves – in proportion with ourselves – then what we produce is more likely to be naturally in harmony, and have a kind of beauty to it,” he continues.

“We express what we are inside. But also, what we expose ourselves to outside also affects us inside. To allow ourselves to be in an environment where we take these things into account is important.”

Talking with Kabir is a joy, and a conversation I have been looking forward to for a long time.

Continue reading...

~ Skip Maselli [Virginia, USA]

All my life, I’ve been measured. Measured by my Apple Watch, meters swum, the deeds of a father, or the GPA of my children. Even now, I’m measured by the number of words in this reflection.

But what is the measurement tool for our humanness? As Dede teaches:

A human being’s measure is the measure of that which he or she surrenders to and serves.
[The Knowing Heart, Helminski]

For me, this comes down to what we love (cherish), how we serve in that love, and how we overcome being servants of the ego.

And here I thought being human meant writing beautiful “Sufi poems,” ego-laced and addressed to a mysterious beloved, whirling in and out of my own Divan. A fool’s folly. It’s not about what I think or know, nor does love glide in on the golden rays of the sun. I’ve exteriorized the realm of real spiritual freedom, casting a shadow over a true identity within.

This past year, I’ve endured one of the most painful conditions known to medicine. For months, reading, writing—even thinking—hurt. The upper right quadrant of my head was consumed with persistent, unrelenting electrical lancing. I couldn’t sleep. Speaking was often so agonizing that I could only whisper short segments. I thought my life was done. And as it subsides—one eye open like a sleeping giant—I find:

Truly, a human being is born with a restless disposition. Whenever misfortune touches him, he is filled with self-pity; and whenever good fortune comes to him, he selfishly withholds it.
[Qur’an, Surah 70:19–21]

During those ghosting hours of night, I prayed to everything ever shown or taught to me; a photo of my recently passed father, Allah, the Prophet (PBUH), Mevlana, Jesus, even the Buddhas and bodhisattvas. I began several letters to Dede, knowing in my heart that his face and words would reach me. Sometimes, cherished knowing is all it takes. I heard his “Ya Hafiz, Ya Shafi.” He once ended an email with the simplest of instructions, “Be Real.”

The human being is a threshold between two worlds, two realities: the reality of material existence, where the ego dwells, and the reality of spiritual Being, where the essential self is held and nurtured in an All-Compassionate embrace. It is in the knowing heart that these two dimensions meet and are integrated.
[The Knowing Heart, Helminski]

The seeker stands at the threshold of freedom and slavery.
[Living Presence, Helminski]

It’s been a year of two worlds: one of ego, tangled in self-pity; and another, a paradise, just out of reach. As my prayers went unanswered, I wondered, where is the meter for what I cherish—for what I love? I’ve nothing to surrender, let alone surrender to. And yet, I was encircled by an elusive, barely palpable paradise.

Shams was medicine for Rumi’s soul. He was everywhere, even when he could not be found; a master who made no demands of his servant and a servant who anticipated his master’s every need. He became the crucible of love from which Rumi’s heart both quenched itself and thirsted for more. But Shams was not just a dream. He was a human being. A threshold.

I’m no Rumi, except by the grace of the Shams present within us. That medicine heals the immeasurable. It halts bad judgment before it's rendered, redirects a glance toward someone else's need, and pauses breath upon exhale until the stillness itself quietly eases the head pain. I’m grateful and humbled by measures that no gauge can detect.

After many failures to live up to the measure of a true human being, I’ve come to believe that all faithful endeavors are ways of uniting with the spiritual intelligence of being human. Perhaps this is why we must “die before we die;” to dislodge the sediment of pain and longing. But maybe it's even simpler. Maybe it’s prayer without objectives. Maybe it’s bowing to God with an empty heart and a clear head, independent of this world’s apothecary of chemicals and surgeries.

The only efforts that are effective are those supported by a greater wisdom within us. Transforming the ego is not just a struggle on one level, but an opening to a higher level: the choice of surrender, of submission to a greater will and intelligence. Submission is not an attribute of ego; we cannot say we are getting good at submission…
[Living Presence, Helminski]

Maybe measuring is not our function on this path. Maybe we are to simply to be. Surrender brings the lightness of a leaf in free fall. It lets go before knowing where it will land. There is a colorful beauty in that fateful descent. Humans are like this.

After all is said and done, after all our spiritual practices and all the esoteric knowledge that might be acquired, the real measure of soulfulness is simply the degree of our humility, gratitude, patience, and love.
[Living Presence, Helminski]

Rumi says:

Between the mirror and the heart is this single difference: the heart conceals secrets, while the mirror does not.
[“The Inner Garment of Love,” Love Is a Stranger, Helminski]

Learning to love with polished hearts, while not minding the rubs, reveals the secret of our own human-being-ness.

I’ve read. I’ve listened. I’ve composed a word now and then but realize the innermost nature of a word is wordless—wrapped in word-ness. All I could say, in the silence of self-pity, was “I... I... I.” Now, it’s just You... You... You. Astaghfirullah.

The true measure of a human being is found in its ability to cherish with presence, surrender with trust, and serve with love—with patience. These manifest in our deeds and adab—inwardly intimate, measured in depths, not heights.

~ Skip began his journey with the Threshold Mevlevis in 2014. He’s the father of three adult human beings, a poet, meditator, and triathlete residing in Virginia.

Join Rumi’s Circle to explore the roots of the sacred tradition of whirling, with poetry by Jalaluddin Rumi. This practical workshop is accessible to all, offering a chance to witness a demonstration by dervishes from the Mevlevi Order and to learn the basics of the whirling technique. 

~ Bengu Erguner-Tekinalp

The first annual St. Louis Threshold Sohbet Circle Reunion, affectionately dubbed a retreat by many, took place over the Mother’s Day weekend. Families traveled from two states, with local hosts embodying the spirit of community and togetherness providing amazing hosting. Our multi-faith, multi-cultural gathering saw members ranging in age from two to over seventy, representing diverse backgrounds from Canada, Pakistan, England, Turkiye, Iran, Bosnia, Taiwan, and the USA.

The out-of-town families arrived on Friday and were welcomed into the homes of their local hosts. Then, on a bright Saturday morning everyone gathered with a heartfelt homemade brunch at Shakira and Mark’s inviting home. Following this, with joy we ventured to the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, where breathtaking mosaics told stories of faith and Oneness, and the Missouri Botanical Garden offered deep spiritual connection. At the Basilica something familiar got our attention, a mosaic with the words “blessed are they that mourn”. It reminded us of a beautiful hadith shared by Dede recently: “Huzun, concern for the affliction of others, is my companion.”

Every moment felt infused with the presence of the Divine, especially during the circle's sohbet. Together, we reflected on a play offered by Camille Ana, prepared from Surah Ta Ha. In the meantime, family members continued to explore the city, later joining us in a potluck dinner and evening spent together under a beautiful magnolia tree at Lea and Terry’s stunning garden.

The weekend was filled with inspiring stories, laughter, heartfelt hugs, and nourishing meals. Even though some of us had only seen each other through little Zoom screens, our reunion felt like we had known one another since pre-eternity. We are profoundly grateful for the opportunity to find each other in this realm. Together, we created not just memories, but a sanctuary where the world felt less lonely and infinitely more beautiful. Our circle members shared their experience:

“We are blessed to have each other and to have such a beautiful spiritual community.”

“It was a day wrapped in the warmth of pure unfiltered smiles— a gathering of souls, each carrying a melody of their own beautiful sounds. Deep eyes met, not as strangers, but as hearts intertwined in the quiet understanding that love makes us all equal, souls beating with the same longing for the beloved. A day where each heart felt seen, valued and held where worth was measured only by the love that binds us. May we have more days like this— days when the air itself hums with the whisper of unity, and the light in our eyes reflects the same beloved.”

“The day was like a ‘spiritual bath’, filled with joy and heartfelt connection. It was so beautiful to meet everyone in person, some for the first time. There is something sacred being physically together, in the shared resonance of our dhikr. I will forever carry the memory of this day with warmth and gratitude.”

“I was honored to have everyone for the reunion at my home, everyone who entered brought comfort and joy with them. It is wonderful when the house is filled with much love and oneness.”

“It is beautiful to have a spiritual family to feel comfortable, to love and being loved. Hearts gathered for the love of the Divine. It was very light. It was our raft, like Noah's boat (aleyhisselam), in the garden, Jannah of our sister Lea, alhamdulillah.”

“The weekend felt very calming and peaceful, as outsiders our families felt immediately welcome. Families, children, everyone connected. There was nourishment in sohbet and engaging in the community.”
 
“There was a sense of safety in the worship together, participating in the activities as one and it was very joyous."

Spiritual conversation (sohbet) with Camille Helminski on the theme ‘Returning to the Source of Love', offered at Garrison 2015.

“And as Muhammad said, ‘My Lord, I have not known you as you ought to be known.’ As long as we have this gift of life, that journey just keeps opening, that intimacy with the Beloved.  And we’re reminded of a passage in the Quran where the Prophet says, ‘No reward do I ask of you for this but that you love one another—love your fellows, love those who are near (al-qurba).’  So we might comprehend that in the sense of nearness, those who are physically with us, near to us or those who are near through kinship and also those who are near the prophets, the saints who call us into that nearness and the angels who are said are continually circling the Throne singing praises. And yet, it is said that that Throne extends over the heavens and the earth— this earth, this heaven, this earth, this heaven. And it is said that the angels are near us in this world and the next.”

June 1st

Join us for a monthly online meditation and sohbet with Shaikh Kabir and special guests from the Threshold community. Held on the 1st Sunday of every month at 12pm Eastern Time (5pm UK).

Zoom meeting: https://zoom.us/j/435138208
Zoom passcode: threshold

Watch last month's meeting below and see all our videos here.

The Threshold Society, rooted within the traditions of Sufism and inspired by the life and work of Mevlâna Jalâluddîn Rumi, is a non-profit educational foundation with the purpose of facilitating the experience of Divine Unity, Love, and Truth in the world. Sufism is a living tradition of human transformation through love and higher consciousness. Our fundamental framework is classical Sufism and the Qur’an as it has been understood over the centuries by the great Sufis. The Society is affiliated with the Mevlevi Order, and offers training programs, seminars and retreats around the world.

Each month we intend to highlight an article about our lineage and its principles. You can find our core articles here. We encourage our community to read and reread these regularly.

Each month we intend to highlight an article about our lineage and its principles. 

Each month we intend to highlight an article about our lineage and its principles. This month we offer: Practical Aspects of Dervishood

***

Practical Aspects of Dervishood
by Mahmoud Mostafa

For me, dervishhood is a total commitment to follow in the footsteps of the Prophet, Mevlana Rumi, Shams, and all the blessed ones who traveled the way of love. There are many aspects to this following and over the years it has been shown to me that the sincerity of commitment to this path is manifest in knowing that one is a servant and living one’s life in this truth. What are the practical aspects of this way of living? For me there are several dimensions, there is a state of being, an active practice, a quality of self-reflection and self-knowing, and a way of conduct in daily life.

[Read more...]

Sep 26-29: UK Annual Retreat at The Vedanta, Lincolnshire

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