THE THRESHOLD SAN DIEGO GROUP
When Suleyman Dede, Senior Shaikh of the Mevlevi Tradition, came to the United States for the first time in 1978, he spoke about the necessity of work, that a certain work is needed for a human being to become complete, and this is the work we are trying to be faithful to.
This means that our group is for people who are committed to that “work.” At first a person may come to some of our gatherings a few times, perhaps, and eventually decide whether they are willing to engage in this work, making regular attendance among the highest priorities in their lives.
There may be spiritual groups that are open for people to come and go as they wish; there may be Sufi gatherings that someone can participate in when they feel like it, similar to a local health club.
We first screen people who express an interest in our work. Our meetings are not an open-door situation. The reason for this is that we wish to build some intimacy and trust within this community. We also wish to deepen our understanding of our souls and be able to express our experience with a language adequate to the subject.
Within the community itself, there are also different levels of commitment. It is possible, for instance, to be in the category of a friend of Threshold and attend regularly, as long as one agrees to make it a priority.
In traditional language such a person is called a Muhib, a “friend” of the group. And there is also another category, Murid, which means someone who is “willing,” someone who has a deeper relationship and may at some point be initiated, i.e. receive what is called “Bayat.”
ESCONDIDO SOHBETS
On January 25th, 2026 Kabir made a call for a new level of commitment and spoke about the possibilities of a “group field” rising to a new level. He suggested the possibility of a six-month period of focused group work, introducing systematic homework of themes and practices, with in person zikrs and conversations on alternate Thursday nights. Camille shared a summary of the eighteen stages of service in a Mevlevi Tekke.
Dear Friends, salaam,
We have recorded these sohbets as a source of foundational teachings for our group here in Escondido and as samples of the kind of teachings that can be expected in our Escondido community.
May it be love and beauty,
Shaikh Kabir
May 4th, 2025 The Knowing Heart: Threshold between worlds
June 24, 2024 Sincerity and Character (Akhlaq). Main sohbet begins around 17:30 minutes.
May 26, 2024 The Circles of Remembrance. Main sohbet begins around 17:15 minutes.
September 10, 2023. Develop Being through Remembrance, Intention, Love
Guided meditation
Sohbet: This talk is an important survey of essential teachings, which hopefully everyone in our local community will listen to at least once.
June 11, 2023 Being, Knowledge, Love (sohbet begins at about 29 minutes)
What is a complete teaching? On the importance of balancing being, knowledge, and love.