River of Guidance
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This is the place to find course materials, videos, and any supplemental guidance.
Khilvat at Home a few possibilities
While it is the general practice that one goes on khilvat away from home to sever ties with the daily world, it is recognized that bringing the essence or attitude of khilvat into one’s home and daily life can be an experience of considerable value. It is understood that as in all endeavors there is a spectrum of approaches and the emphasis of this experience is to make it as comfortable and easy for you as you wish.
Elements for consideration for a Positive home Khilvat Experience:
As this list of ideas are considered, they are to be considered realizing that ‘one size does not fit all!’ consequently please peruse these ideas as just how realistic is each idea in fitting with your time demands, also the energy demands and is it necessary for your ability to fall into the atmosphere of khilvat. None of these ideas are essential!
Choose a specific room in which to carry out the retreat. This will be one’s specific refuge for the length of the khilvat. All indoor practices are done in this room and one can also sleep and eats in this room if desired.
Choose which bathroom to use if there is more than one in your home, and ask that you be the only user during your khilvat. This will allow for less stimulation t home, keeping the daily routine simpler.
Rearrange the furnishings in the selected retreat room to make it new and different from its everyday look. Build a special altar for the khilvat. If time allows clean this room and “redecorate” before entering khilvat.
Again, if possible, arrange for someone else to do errands for you that do not need your direct attention. This allows more space in your khilvat time and less distraction.
Keep your food simple and nutritious.
Notify friends and family that you will be on retreat and to minimize unnecessary contact.
If possible do not read the mail or newspapers, if you have caller ID answer the phone only
for that call which you must. Only use the computer if essential, watching television can negatively impact retreat at home.,
Practicing Khilvat at home carries the risk of intrusions to the sense of the sacred demeanor you wish to hold as much as possible, with some planning as noted above that intrusion can be kept at a minimum to maximize your experience and your sacred consciousness.
English Language Zoom Schedule
English Language Zoom Link
German Language Zoom Schedule
German Language Zoom Links
To all khilvat attendees at the last zoom session of each day there will be breakout groups to share
and seek some clarification, if needed, from folks in the group. But we also wish to open the way for
phone connection (for a one on one talk) with one of the individuals on the Khilvat Council if you feel
that is needed. The three folks below, with their email addresses, will monitor their email for emails
from those who wish that one on one time. We ask that you give a brief idea of what it is you wish to
address, your phone number, times you are available for calls
and does your phone also utilize texting.
Saladin Pelfrey
Rahimah Sweeney
Nur Mariam
For those of you who are in the European schedule and also wish to have a direct talk with a Khilvat Council
Member I invite you to email with the same directions as I noted above.
Jelaluddin Hauke
River of Guidance and the Khilvat Council
present a four-day online retreat
Finding the Quiet Heart Within
A home-based retreat where the winds of the world may soften and your inner fire may begin to glow again.
Guided by Saladin Pelfrey, Rahimah Sweeney, Nur Mariam Simmons, and Jelaluddin Hauke Sturm
Daily Main Video Session
Supplemental Materials for Retreat
Click the arrows ⬇️ to expand section
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Documents to review and download:
Khilvat Day One practices and readings
From: Nur Mariam
Beloved friends,
The practice I wish to share with you is one that has supported me deeply on many khilvats: the practice of attuning to an illuminated soul.
This is the gentle act of calling upon a saint, a master, a rasul, or a beloved teacher—one whose presence brings a natural smile to your heart when you envision them. Someone toward whom you feel a great affinity, and through whom you sense the divine transmission of wisdom flowing. For each of us this may be different, and it may even change from day to day.
I invite you to pause for a moment. Gently close your eyes. Breathe into your heart. Notice which beloved being you feel drawn to walk beside you during this retreat.
It may be Hazrat Inayat Khan or Murshid Samuel Lewis. It could be Amitabha—the Buddha of Infinite Light—or Green Tara, or Kwan Yin. It may be Jesus, Mary, or Mary Magdalene. Simply breathe and become aware of the illuminated soul who wishes to accompany you as you begin this journey.
Imagine this being seated before you, embracing you in loving light. As you open your heart to receive their blessing, you know that they will be by your side as you move through your daily activities.
You may wish to invoke them through-out the day with a sacred song or phrase—
For example:
As-salaam mu Inayat for Pir-O-Murshid Inayat Khan
Ya Hayy Ya Haqq for Pir-O-Murshid Samuel Lewis
Om Tare Tuttare Ture So Ha for Green Tara
Om Namo Amitabha for Buddha Amitabha
Or perhaps a name or sacred chant that is especially dear to your heart.
Continuing to envision them, you may feel their hand gently upon your back, you may envision yourself walking arm in arm with them. Perhaps you experience their quiet transmission of walking peacefully upon the earth.
As you walk with them, begin to attune to the vibration of their being. Allow your breath to come into rhythm with their breath. With each breath allow your connection with them to deepen, imagine seeing through their eyes, touching with their hands, loving through their heart. Let the divine radiance of their light infuse every cell of your body.
As Hazrat Inayat Khan states “this practice of walking with an illuminated soul is one of receptivity, sincerity, and aligning oneself with that inner light.”
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From Jelaluddin: "Finding the Quiet Heart Within" – Online Retreat, Day 1
– English and German – Practice Jelaluddin
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From Rahimah: Awareness of Light Practice
This practice can be done throughout our Khilvat. It is a practice of emptying the mind and expanding the heart in gratitude for the gift of rhythm in the natural world. It is a Presence practice, a way to clear and reset by attuning to the qualities of light during the course of the day.
You may begin this practice upon awakening each day, not taking for granted how your being responds to the light or the anticipation of the first light you will experience. You can consciously feel gratitude for the turning of the spheres that create light and darkness each day.
You may notice how you move through your day as the light changes at dawn into a quiet light, and then, toward mid morning into a robust light.
You can watch how your activities and inner life respond to the rise and fall of the rays of light and the gradually diminishing light at the end of the day.
If you are lucky enough to be able to view the dawn turning into day or the setting sun turning in colorful dusk, then gray dusk, then darkness, Alhamdulillah!
Even the rhythm of our Zooms can be a cue. Take a moment before you get online to notice the quality of light that is included in our time together. The light from where you are is joining the light of each person journeying with you this weekend. Be grateful for the slowing down to notice.
Part of the blessing of Khilvat is that we have created a spaciousness to notice this physical beauty and rhythm in nature. We have time to walk out of our homes and into the natural world, to feel the gratitude first hand without the separation even of a view through the window.
Light is our companion, our exquisite friend. Close your eyes for a moment and see it from the inside as well.
Yours in the light, Rahimah
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May this practice bring you great blessing and benefit.
Saladin Dharma talk
Reading: From Murshid SAM when speaking to going out in the world to engage in action. “I think more will be done and is being done now. Because it is inner faith that has enabled many of you to succeed when you go out into the unknown, so to speak, and suddenly help comes to you.
February 27 Bowl of Saki - Believe in God with childlike faith; for simplicity with intelligence is the sign of the holy ones. HIK
Commentaries by Murshid SAM
Complexity is born of man, mankind loves complexities. This is due to the activity of the mind-mesh which splits truth into fragments, the shadows of which appear as facts. Not all the facts combined will present the truth, nor can all facts be combined until the essence of truth is discernible.
It is this perception of unity, very simple in itself, very intelligible, yet quite unanalyzable, which is the natural aspect of the heart, characteristic of children and angels and possible in all souls who have escaped the network of the mind-mesh.
For every person can quickly change to a state of perfect faith in God, and if nothing else, this brings the inner peace which either terminates the adverse state of affairs or brings such self-control that man may rise to mastery. It does not matter how this is done, but the Sufis, by their daily practices, demonstrate their faith and hope that man can share in the holy communion which is ever before him.
(Mu’min) and new beginnings
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Theme “day of the heart” practices- Janaka heart breath; calling of the heart; walk of Wakil /
Tawwab and heart and wings at night
Document to review and download:
Saladin’s dharma talk
But among beasts and birds intelligence develops, that is why in them love begins to show itself. Wujud is the objective world, whose purpose it is to be loved, for love could not manifest unless there were an object to love. Shuhud is the realization of love's experience, in whatever aspect it may be.
It is mankind's love and interest in things that in time reveals their secret, and then man knows how to develop, control, and utilize them. No one can know anybody, however much he may profess to know, except the lover, because in the absence of love the inner eyes are blind. Only the outer eyes are open, which are merely the spectacles of the inner eyes. If the sight is not keen, of what use are the spectacles? It is for this reason that we admire all those whom we love, and are blind to the good qualities of those whom we do not love. It is not always that these deserve our neglect, butour eyes, without love, cannot see their goodness. Those whom we love may have bad points too,but as love sees beauty, so we see that alone in them. Intelligence itself in its next step towards manifestation is love. When the light of love has been lit, the heart becomes transparent, so that the intelligence of the soul can see through it. But until the heart is kindled by the flame of love, the intelligence, which is constantly yearning to experience life on the surface, is groping in the dark.
HIK
Saladin’s commentary on HIK especially on wujud, Wadud and shuhud for today the day of the heart
Radiance Sutras by Loren Roche
Yukti Verse 3 pge 38:
“Enter these turning points,
Where the rhythms of life transform into each other.
Breath flows in, filling, filling,
In this moment, drink eternity.
Breath flows out, emptying, emptying,
Offering itself to infinity.
Cherishing these moments
Mind dissolves into heart,Heart dissolves into space,
Body becomes a vibrating field,
Pulsating between fullness and emptiness.” -
Documents to review and download:
Radiance Sutras
Yukti verse 4 pge 39
“At the end of the exhale,
Breath surrenders to quietude.
For a moment you hang in the balance —
Suspended
In the fertile spaciousness
That is the source of breath.
At the end of the inhale,
Filled with the song of the breath,
There is a moment when you are simply
Holding the tender mystery.
In these interludes,
Experience opens into exquisite vastness
With no beginning and no end.
Embrace this infinity without reservations.
You are its vessel.”–––––––––––––––
Saladin Dharma Talk
The saintly souls, who consider it as their religion to seek the pleasure of God and to be resigned to
His will, are really blessed, for their manner is pleasing to everyone, for they are conscientious lest
they should hurt the feelings of anyone, and if by mistake they happen to hurt someone's feelings
they feel they have hurt God Whose pleasure they must constantly seek, for the happiness of their
life is only in seeking the pleasure of God.
Sometimes they know the moment the desire has sprung. Sometimes they know when they have
gone halfway in the path of its pursuit. And sometimes they know at the end of strife. But even
then, at the end of it, their willingness to resign to the will of God becomes their consolation, even in
the face of disappointment. The secret of seeking the will of God is in cultivating the faculty of
sensing harmony, for harmony is beauty and beauty is harmony. The lover of beauty in his further
progress becomes the seeker of harmony, and by trying always to maintain harmony man will tune
his heart to the will of God.
HIK
My commentary with focus on Inshallah, giving oneself to their ‘journey of awakening’ kasab is
balance and that brings harmony
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