March: Joyous Disciplines
March newsletter: The Joyous Disciplines of Dervishood, visiting Chishti saints in India, and upcoming events in London...
February: De-Programming
February newsletter: how to de-programme, studying Women of Sufism, sohbet with Abdul Hayy...
January: Path of the Saints
HAPPY NEW YEAR and welcome to the new monthly newsletter where we will share the latest news, articles and messages from our teachers and international community. How do we follow the path of the saints in these times? And exploring the joyous disciplines of dervishood. . .
Dec 2015
Reflection on November’s theme: The disciplines of dervish-hood are a way to discovering your true identity beyond the false self. The porter runs to the heavy load and takes it from others knowing burdens are the foundations of ease and bitter things the forerunners of pleasure. See the porters struggle over the load! It’s the [...]
Nov 2015
Reflection on October’s theme: Begin with contentment (Rida); then follow the Heart. As-Sadiq relates that the Messenger said, 'The world is a series of changes in fortune: such benefit you may draw from it comes to you despite your frailty, and what is to your disadvantage will afflict you without you being able to ward [...]
Oct 2015
Reflection on September’s theme: The false self (nafs) will never be satisfied; so strive with God to be near to Him. For most of our lives we live with our self (nafs) in charge, calling out to God whenever the nafs gets a bit shaken. It is when we fall and get broken that we [...]
Sep 2015
Reflection on August’s theme: The more the mind and heart become still, the more we can trust in God. The state of my mind has always been quite frenetic. Over the years I have struggled with presence and meditation. It always seems that the quieter I try to become, the more active my mind becomes. [...]
Aug 2015
Reflection on July’s theme: Be cleansed of shallow idolatries; affirm the Real. Ya Haqq. Alhaqqah, Mal-haqqah, Wa Maa adraka mal haqqaqah. Oh the Laying-bare of the Truth. How awesome that laying-bare of the Truth. And what could make thee conceive what the laying bare of the truth will be? [Surah 69: Al Haqqah] As we [...]
Jul 2015
Reflection on June’s theme: Patience is consent to the present moment; patience is crowned with faith. One way I have tried to practice consent to the present moment this month is to observe and resist my complaining. The word consent comes from the Latin ‘con’ meaning ‘together with’ and ‘sentire’ meaning ‘feeling’. So consent to [...]
Jun 2015
Reflection on May’s theme: Leave opinions and blame; be an objective witness, and serve in love. Initially this made me reflect on our outer world which is beset with apparent conflict and untruths, and the question of how to meet these without being drawn into judgement and blame. I don't believe we are being asked [...]