Northern Rivers & Universal Worship Report

by Zubin

Dear friends,

2022 has brought increasing opportunities to participate in the Sufi community. In February, still exuberant from the international production of Pir O Murshid Hazrat Inayat Khan’s play, the Bogey Man, we celebrated Urs with an international confraternity and poetry and music presentations. Many countries participated in the program, and to conclude all sent electronic greeting cards displaying roses and quotes from Murshid. People put their hearts into this celebration of Urs and the opportunity to send greetings to each other.

In March, we commenced daily Peace Prayers, horrified at the developments in Europe. This short morning meeting involves saying the Invocation, the Prayer for Peace of the Nations five times, Ya Muhaimin 101 times, a silence, and a blessing. For about fifteen minutes a dozen or so people from around Australia, US and UK share prayers for peace. These continue with awareness of their applicability to all: an excerpt: ‘We pray Thee dispel the mists of illusion from the hearts of the nations, and lift their lives by Thy all sufficient power.’ Since the middle of the year Nauroz has convened this ‘Daily Peace Prayers’ group and her style is greatly appreciated.

Initially the Australian Cherag Circle held Universal Worship on the first Sunday morning of each month. Whether the numbers were small (4) or large (12), the service or discussion touched us profoundly. Sabura, Bhakti, Shakti, Saqiya, Yaqin, Thamir, Farhan, Haniyya and I have had opportunities to deepen in the roles in Universal Worship even through our online meetings. The Cherag Training Manual is an excellent reference for use with one’s interest and experience. It has a comprehensive benefit for Australian cherags, many of whom had their primary cherag development opportunities at the annual Australian retreat, which has been postponed for three years due to COVID. A Universal Worship development and discussion commenced on the third Sunday of the month often referencing the Cherag Training Manual. Also, after a few discussions and trials, a vision for podcasting with connections to Spirit Matters is evolving.

The International Confraternity meetings continue weekly with minor adjustments for the change of daylight savings times causing a bit of juggling for the people from US, UK Netherlands, Germany and Australia who attend. The prayers are shared between the approximately twelve attendees according to the needs of the day and

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over the last two years friendships have increased. This gave confidence when Zubin Van Besselar sang the suras and I said the confraternity prayers at Summer School in Katwijk in July. It was very joyous to experience the hospitality of the International Sufi Movement in Holland, gathering again after a few years of COVID lockdowns. The subject was the Ocean of Truth and Pir O Murshid Inayat Khan’s biography, an account of his Personal Experience, in which he talked to the trials and blessings of his life in the west. In particular his belief that he had been called to spread the sufi message, his trust in God and his sublimation of his self were emphasized.

By June it became clear that my role in the Northern Rivers was coming to an end, and I returned to life in Adelaide in July, to be welcomed by many friends. In particular, Bhakti and Karim keep a borrowing library from their Sufi Centre in Milang, and Karim continues to write his blog and newsletter contributions ‘Tracks in a Pathless Land’

In September Hejirat was focused by drawing together the precious activities which Sufi Movement in Australia have collectively been involved in throughout the year to provide a successful three day retreat program.

The growth of friendship, collaboration and support for the continuation of all Sufi activities indicates a national community which will pull together and in particular for Pir Nawab’s return for a retreat at Amberley in 2023.

Those who patiently show up and allow the sounding out of new ideas, provide other support which seems boundless, and continue their journey in the Sufi message are friends beyond measure.

On a monthly basis, a Gathas class considering Murshid’s talks on superstitions, customs and beliefs, insight, symbology, breath, morals, everyday life, metaphysics, and zikr will commence in the new year.

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