River of Guidance Library
Photo: Mansur Johnson
Heart to Heart with Murshid S.A.M.Connecting to Murshid's Heart through his Writings
with Murshid Tansen O'Donohoe
Three 90-minute videos to watch at your own pace
A Note from Tansen:
The timeless wisdom within Murshid S.A.M.’s writings (original papers, commentaries, correspondence, and poetry) is as relevant today as ever. Everything we need for our journey on the Sufi path and much more can be found in these papers.
Where do we start? How do we approach these writings? Which are essential reading? How can we get the most from them? How can we cultivate the essence of these teachings within ourselves? How do we manifest them in our lives?
All these and other questions will be addressed. Being practical by nature, I am drawn to the actual spiritual practices and the states of being that immersing oneself in these writings gives us access to. In our sessions together, I will share many such practices and the ineffable essence, the spaciousness between and beyond what the words allow us to touch. Especially may we all immerse ourselves in the Big Heart of our Murshid.
Read Tansen's full invitation to this course
About Tansen:
Tansen is a modern-day mystic and a master of spiritual dance. He is a Murshid of the Sufi Ruhaniat International and its Archivist. He has studied within several spiritual lineages, including yoga, tantra, Buddhism, and Sufism. As a musician of the heart, he accompanies people on the spiritual path through the subtle and powerful use of sound, rhythm, and breath. His way with groups seems effortless, bringing a natural ease and flow that invites a relaxed, open atmosphere and a sense of togetherness.
Watch three 90-minute videos at your own pace.
Closing note from Murshid Tansen:
Many thanks to you all for participating in this course. Although it was certainly a lot of work putting it together, I was very happy to offer it.
All being well, it may have a lasting impact for you all, and you will feel encouraged to explore on a regular basis these treasures of our lineage.
Upon being initiated, right from the start, I knew the papers would be one of the major benefits for me. When asked by one of my yoga teacher colleagues why I needed to pursue the Sufi direction rather than continue on the yogic path, my reply was based to a great extent on the access to esoteric papers such as those related to sound and breath. I knew intuitively and heartfully that the teachings and practices I now had in my hands were extremely precious and unlike anything else I had previously encountered. This opportunity has proved to be a crucial component for the way my life has blossomed over the years and for which I am eternally grateful.
As pointed out at the end of the final session, this course has been planting seeds. You now have the opportunity to encourage these seeds to grow within you. The inner soil needs to be cultivated in your own way and in your own time. Now it’s up to you. Ya Fattah.
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions arising. <philipodonohoe@me.com>
Much love and many blessings,
Tansen
Supplemental Materials for Course
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Click links below to view and download pdf files.
On the Practice of Tasawwuri From the paper: On Channeling, Tasawwuri, and Telepathy by Murshid Samuel L. Lewis
Esoteric Papers Library Now available on Sufi Ruhaniat International Website
Githekas on Self-Protection Series_1 by Murshid Samuel L. Lewis (Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti)
Spiritual Training Through Music 2 An Original Sangatha by Murshid Samuel L. Lewis (Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti)
The Bestowing of Blessing - Selections By Murshid Samuel Lewis Chapter 12: Baraka
Darood - Self Protection Githekas Githeka Series I: Number 2 Darood by Murshid Samuel L. Lewis (Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti)
Fana fi Sheik - Sangatheka by Murshid Samuel L. Lewis (Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti)
Archive for Mureeds Murshid Samuel Lewis
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A couple of these papers describe the process of writing commentaries from Murshid SAM’s perspective.
Several papers drawn from the Commentaries listed in the Essential Papers may act as tasters and help us begin to explore this form of practice.
Along with that, there’s a concentration on Dot and Circle from On the Performance of Zikr
Additionally, there are a couple of papers relating to Fan fi Pir. One written by Wali Ali. The other a collection of references drawn from the papers.
A Note From Tansen: Heart to Heart Session 2 Notes
Practices from Cosmic Language This contains details of all of the spiritual practices given by Murshid SAM in this paper. This is a longer paper but well worth reading through. Practices such as irfan, zikr, fikr, mujahida, mushahida, meditation, murakkabah, various wazifas, breath, fana, nayaz, element practices, Kashf, heart concentration, inner listening, music and dancing, magnetism, walks and feeling are explored. Quite a selection. A good reference and hopefully something that will encourage the reading of the whole paper.
Excerpts- Book of Health. Chapter 2. Commentary Part II: Healing. Also, a longer paper, one that everyone will benefit from studying. Excerpts and edited from the Chapters on The Causes of Diseases, Magnetic Power, Breathing, Psychological Nature of Diseases, The Origin of Diseases, Self-Control and Our Being.
Communication Through the Breath A short paper from the Pasi Anfas:Breath Gathas.
Naqshibandi Symbolism - Dot and Circle Short paper on the symbolism associated with the Dot and the Circle with many forms of practice given by Murshid SAM as Ryazat.
On the Performance of Zikr- Dot and Circle Outline the benefits of concentration on this symbol before the practice of zikr.
Fana fi Pir. Various Selections. It was Murshid SAM’s intention shortly before his death to write a paper on Fana fi Pir but he did not manage to do so. He did make several references to Fana fi Pir in other papers, which are collected here.
Fana Fi Pir by Wali Ali Murshid Wali Ali admirably followed Murshid’s intention to write on fana fi pir. It ends with words of great significance. “One’s Pir and family of fellow mureeds thus become a cosmic body, a caravan to the goal and a source of continued Guidance.”
The Science of Commentaries This is written as a short introduction for the forthcoming publication of Githa Sadhana – The Path of Attainment.
Basis of the Commentaries. Murshid wrote in various places how Hazrat Inayat Khan instructed him to write commentaries on his works. This began before Hazrat Inayat Khan had died and continued after his death. For those who might be interested I have also included at the end a couple of papers from a paper called Addresses to Khalifs and Sheikhs, written by Murshid SAM, which were to be read out at the Jamiat meeting in 1930. This gives us some idea of how the early days of Sufi teaching were beginning to unfold in California!
Finally, here are a few words of Hazrat Inayat Khan for us to reflect upon.
Ta‘lim Teaching - Sangithas I by Pir-O-Murshid Hazrat Inayat Khan
The initiator must give their pupils their own meaning of the Sufi teachings, with added definitions, to make that teaching fully comprehensible to the pupils. It is better to give pupils no tendency to dispute over sacred teachings containing the mystery of life. One is entitled to dispute only when one has assimilated the teaching, but then one does not feel inclined to dispute.
Pupils must be told not to study the teachings but to meditate upon them; in that way, to make the teaching a living thing, not only a book of knowledge. The oral teachings given in Gathekas, Gathas, Githas, Sangathas, Sangithas, are as a line to tread upon. As one goes along the line, one observes different things which are necessary to be observed on the spiritual path. For instance, there is a map of the city which only shows the different ways that lead to different places, but by traveling on the roads given on that map, one will see for oneself interesting sights to ponder upon and to appreciate, and by the help of which to accomplish one’s purpose in life. In short, pupils must be taught how to benefit themselves by the teachings in their everyday life and how to see for themselves the beauty and complexity that they will find in the paths of life by taking those lines as roads leading to the desired goal.
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Dear Friends,
There are a few more documents detailed below.
In our next session, we will focus on Murshid SAM’s poetry and correspondence.
As well as mentioning his connection to Zen.
There is quite a lot of material presented in the attached PDFS. We will not have time to focus on them all fully though we will be engage with some of them as well as exploring practices given in these papers.
Looking forward to being with you for our final session soon.
Many blessings and much love, Tansen
Click the links below to view and download pdf files.
Heart to Heart Session 3 - A note from Tansen
Crescent and Heart Poem A poem by Murshid Samuel L. Lewis (Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti)
Karuna_Yoga_Gita Karuna Yoga Gita (The Song of Compassion) by Murshid Samuel L. Lewis (Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti)
Murshid SAM Correspondence Reps Correspondence between Murshid SAM and his friend Paul Reps – A few selections
Murshid SAM Correspondence with his Khalifa Saadia Khawar Khan of Pakistan
Rassoul Gita - Prelude, A poem by Murshid Samuel L. Lewis (Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti)
The Jerusalem Trilogy Song of the Prophets
Siva! Siva! A Poem by Murshid Samuel L. Lewis (Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti)
The Lotus and the Universe By Murshid Samuel L. Lewis (Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti)