TOWARD THE ONE, THE PERFECTION OF LOVE, HARMONY AND BEAUTY, THE ONLY BEING, UNITED WITH ALL THE ILLUMINATED SOULS, WHO FORM THE EMBODIMENT OF THE MASTER, THE SPIRIT OF GUIDANCE |
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ISSUE 9 ~ APRIL 2021
Centennial of the Universal Worship Service
Ordination of Sirajs
Growth and Change for The Service of Universal Peace
Historical Notes of the Service of Universal Peace
Ruhaniat Mureeds Pandemic and Crisis Relief Fund
Update from the Liberation Collective
plus, Connections & Ruhaniat Pets
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-calligraphy by Muraqabba Mike Monahan |
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The Centennial Celebration of the Universal Worship Service |
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Bismillah. The date 7 May 2021 marks exactly 100 years since Hazrat Pir-O-Murshid Inayat Khan presented a new form of worship to the world. On the evening of May 7, 1921, Murshid presented the first Universal Worship Service in London. At that time the Anglican Church defined the religious culture. His innovation was to welcome other religions on the altar. The form he presented was both formal and recognizable as worship for the attendees. Earlier in the afternoon Murshid gave a talk. Here are a few ideas worthy of revisiting:
- …What is necessary is sincere devotion and offering of prayer to God. Form does not matter…
- The whole being engaged in prayer means that all are praying, one’s whole being is in prayer.
- We do not think and we shall never think that this is the only form, or the best form. All forms are the best forms… Forms have always quarreled. Sufism teaches tolerance. Therefore we are believers in all forms, and in our form we unite all, but it is not the only form.
- …Remember that in every age, when the form is given, a particular form suited to the age was given.
The service, which was the first time the prayers Salat, Saum, and Khatum were shared publicly, remains a living prayer to this day. Even so, it is important to remember the historical, cultural context for this service. Other religions were new to the altar of the British attendees. Since that time the teachings of many religious traditions have spread widely. Popular spiritual teachers become global celebrities. Pithy religious quotes become memes that frequently recirculate on social media sites. Consequently Universal Worship takes new and creative forms in diverse cultural contexts; so much so that the Ruhaniat renamed this ray of the Sufi Message as the Service of Universal Peace.
As Murshid suggested, please go and kindle your devotion. Devotion is the heart of worship. The heart is the altar of worship. Prayer is the language of worship – and prayer is not limited to language. The devotional, embodied experience is the prayer unfolding. Allow yourself to experience “the whole being in prayer.”
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I invite you to attend at least one of the centennial celebrations of the Universal Worship Service (see link below). The Ruhaniat family announced more than 30 services planned worldwide. If you cannot attend one, please celebrate in your own way.
In the Service of Universal Peace,
Perry Pike
Chairperson for the Siraj Circle
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artwork by Murshida Khadija Goforth
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On April 16, 2021 Siraj-un-Munir Pir Shabda Kahn ordained seven people to serve as Siraj, the senior Ministers of Sufi Ruhaniat International. Alhamdulillah! May you each serve with joy, inspiration, and strength.
artwork by Murshida Khadija Goforth
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Photos top row from left: Farrunnissa Rosa, Mujiba Debbie Berkana, Anna Sophia Parker, ZubinNur Westrik. Bottom row from left: Arjuna Ben Zion Weiss, Karuna Foudriat, Lakshmi Lorena Tamariz |
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Growth and Change for the Service of Universal Peace
A Report from the Siraj Circle
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In the past 2 years an effort began to reach nearly 200 cherags (ministers) in the Ruhaniat. They were contacted to see how their ministries were unfolding. Those who had been cherags for more than 40 years said they really did not do a service anymore. Rather, they live the service every day. That describes a possible ideal for how this ray could work for all cherags, and sheds light on the most common misconception.
Many people equate doing the Universal Worship Service with being a cherag (minister). As this also suggests, those cherags not leading a Universal Worship Service regularly often feel inadequate, or disqualify themselves as not being a real or proper cherag. But being a cherag is not about doing a worship service. The work of the cherag is to live their life in the service of peace in whatever form their service may take...
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Historical Notes on the Service of Universal Peace
by Siraj Najat Roberts
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The spring 1993 Jamiat (Jamiat Khas Leaders’ Retreat) held in San Francisco was focused on the Sacred Feminine and was coordinated and presented by women of the Ruhaniat. A meeting of Sirajs was held at the Jamiat from which came the inspiration for the name Service of Universal Peace. A Service of Universal Peace was designed and conducted by several women leaders at this Jamiat, especially adding a candle for the Goddess.
On January 5, 1994, Pir Moineddin Jablonski wrote to Siraj Ahmaddin-as-Salik Abdullah (Laurence McCarty), directing him to send a “letter to all Sirajs,…to let them know I feel the time is right for us to begin using the name ‘Service of Universal Peace’ instead of ‘Universal Worship’ … and “word should go out to all the Cherags and Cheragas to begin using ‘Service of Universal Peace’ in their public announcements.”...
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Ruhaniat Mureeds Pandemic & Crisis Relief Fund
A Report from the Committee
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Dear Companions,
We want to thank everyone who has donated money to help mureeds in the Ruhaniat family in this extraordinary time. Together we have given crucial financial support to 44 mureeds throughout our world-wide community. This is truly a work being done by mureeds for mureeds.
Recently the committee discussed if there was anything we could do to help mureeds who may be challenged by the application process because of language or internet access. There may be some mureeds who do not know about the Fund. We ask our community, especially our guides, to reach out to mureeds who might need help applying for financial aid. We want to serve our entire Ruhaniat family, and for this, we depend on you!
We have given over $25,000 in financial aid in one year and there is still money available that we would be happy to award. We also wish to replenish the fund and ask that you please consider giving a donation to the Relief Fund which helps mureeds in times of crisis.
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Questions?
Write to Tarana Wesley:
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Toward the One!
Wakil Matthews, Rahimah Sweeney, Pablo Iturralde, and Tarana Wesley
Ruhaniat Mureed Pandemic & Crisis Relief Fund Committee members
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Update from the Liberation Collective (LibCo)
by Sadaya Zimmerle
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We have some exciting news! After in depth consultation over a period of months, we were able to create a series of three foundational and introductory trainings to raise consciousness in support of inclusivity, equity, and skillful treatment of people within our community in the face of different forms of marginalization and bias prevalent in our common society.
The goal was to provide accessible and immediately applicable trainings to a combined audience of the Board of Trustees and the Murshids' Circle; something that had never been done before. Pir Shabda gave his whole-hearted support to this endeavor as did the many who showed up to attend these offerings on Zoom...
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If you have ideas for the Ruhaniat in relation to these topics, would like to share your experience with us, or are interested in getting involved with LibCo, please email us:
May the Message Spread Far and Wide,
and Toward the One,
Sadaya Zimmerle,
on behalf of the Liberation Collective
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Connections ~ virtual gatherings, recordings and online communities
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Ruhaniat Family Zoom Gathering
Saturday, May 15, 2021
11:00 am PST, USA * UTC-8
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Ruhaniat Family Zoom Gatherings
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Your donations help us to answer the continuing call of our mission. We are grateful to our donors, volunteers, teachers, the Murshids' Circle and the Board of Trustees, who help us in our work and service. Thank You!
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Ruhaniat Pets ~ for delight's sake!
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Ginger
from Kakuli Razina Ballinger of El Cerrito, California
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Pixie
from Azalee Lindsey Molineaux of Sacramento, California
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