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As we know, the dervish in Sema is performing a remarkable feat of balance. And this symbolizes the balance we yearn for in our lives.
This year’s UK Threshold Retreat can be expected to be a balanced program of meditation, zikr, music, movement, discourse, and friendship, all made coherent through the theme of “Balance.”
I once asked the late and beloved Celalettin Çelebi, “Is it better to follow our mind or our heart?”
“It’s best when both can agree,” was his answer.
Finding our balance is a critical question, especially in these times. Some areas that we need to consider in order to live a free and independent life under divine grace in guidance:
In our personal lives, what is the balance between livelihood and spiritual practice? Between family obligations and individual needs? Between self-discipline and healthy pleasures?
Or on the world stage, between staying abreast of the “news” and avoiding toxic media? Or between moral outrage, and trust in the Divine Order?
And in a spiritual tradition, like ours, what would be the best balance between contemplation and service, between discipline and spontaneity, between esoteric and exoteric?
Put another way, how do we balance Aql and Ashk, Intellect and (Spiritual) Love?
These questions and more are integral to the Art of Balance. But most essential is the experience of balance that is possible in our community relationships, in our worship, and in our practice.
We invite you to join us. |
