CORRECTION TO PREVIOUS POST, DEC. 16 NOT 17

Sorry, we will meet on Dec. 16 at 1000 Urlin Ave. Apt. 1507 at 7:30; Rumi died on Dec. 17. Please call if you are confused, and sorry again.
Hilal 446-3337

Rumi's Urs 2008, 7:30 pm, Wednesday December 17

A Just-Finishing Candle

A candle is made to become entirely flame.
In that annihilating moment
it has no shadow.

It is nothing but a tongue of light
describing a refuge.

Look at this
just-finishing candle stub
as someone who is finally safe
from virtue and vice,

the pride and shame
we claim from those.
Mevlana Jelaluddin Rumi
The Essential Rumi, Coleman Barks

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On December 16, 2008 the Columbus Sufi Circle will meet to celebrate the finishing of Mevlana's candle who joined the Beloved on December 17, 1273 in Konya, Turkey.
Please join us to read from the works of Mevlana, to sing, to turn.....
at Zawiyya al Mu'min, 1000 Urlin Ave, Apt 1507, 7:30 pm
All welcome, no previous knowledge or experience needed.

Please call Hilal at 614-446-3337 or e-mail hilal1001@sbcglobal.net if you have questions.

Bismillah -Irva Taylor Has Joined the Beloved

Long-time peace dancer and leader Irva Taylor passed into the arms of al Jamil, the beautiful, last Wednesday. Think of her favorite dances, Ishk Allah Mahbood L'illah; God is Love, Lover and Beloved; Allah Ya Jamil. Ya Salaam Irva.

Irva Jane Taylor

TAYLOR Irva Jane Taylor was born March 23, 1920 in Toledo, Ohio and passed away November 19, 2008 in Columbus, Ohio. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Miami University and received her Masters from Garret Seminary at Northwestern University in Chicago. From 1945-47 she was Director of youth work for the Church Federation of Dayton. She was Assistant to the Dean of Students at the University of Chicago Divinity School. Irva served with the YWCA in St. Louis, Mo. as a Branch Director and Young Adult Program Director. She was with the Head Start Community Organization working with the Delta Ministry, in Greenville, Miss. When she returned to Ohio she was named the new Associate Director of the YWCA at Ohio Wesleyan University. She married George Harvey Taylor (who preceded her in death) on May 4, 1968. Irva was a passionate crusader for the rights of all individuals, but most particularly the Native Americans and the poor and oppressed. She is survived by two sisters, Joan S. Miller of Columbus and Janet and Ralph Hoewing of Riverside, Ca.; and many nieces and nephews. Service will be held 10 a.m. Wednesday, November 26, 2008 in the Chapel located at Westminster-Thurber Retirement Community, 717 Neil Ave., Columbus, OH 43215 with Pastor Jennifer, officiating. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her name to Senior Independence Hospice, 6520 Poe Ave., Dayton, OH 45415. Private graveside service and interment. Visit www.schoedinger.com to share memories or express condolences Sign the online guestbook at www.dispatch.com/obituaries

Zikr at Zawiyya al Mu'min ( 1000 Urlin Ave., Grandview Heights OH, 43212)
Friday, November 21, 7 pm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Suppose you know the definitions of all substances
and their derivatives,
what good is this to you?
Know the true definition of yourself.
That is indispensable.
Then, when you know your own definition, flee from it,
that you may attain to the One who cannot be defined,
O sifter of the dust.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Hadd-e a`yân o `araz dânesteh gir
hadd-e khvod-râ dân keh na-bovad zin gozir
Chon be-dâni hadd-e khvod zin hadd goriz
tâ beh bi hadd dar resi ay khâk biz

-- Mathnawi V:564-565
Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski
"Rumi: Jewels of Remembrance"
Threshold Books, 1996
(Persian transliteration courtesy of Yahyá Monastra)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Call or e-mail Hilal with questions ( 614-446-3337)

World-Wide Prayer Circle for the Planet

Saturday, June 21, 2008 is the day that all mureeds of the Hazrat Inayat Khan Family will join together in an Inayati world-wide prayer circle for the planet.

The Columbus Dances of Universal Peace will hold a Summer Solstice Elemental Peace Ritual of body prayers and chants from many cultures dedicated to the healing of the earth.

Saturday, June 21, 2008
7:00 p.m.
Whetstone Park, 3901 N. High St., Columbus, OH 433214
For more information, contact Thalia at centralohiosufi@yahoo.com or 614.486.9530

Columbus Dances of Universal Peace
invites you to join in a special event!

A Summer Solstice Elemental Peace Ritual

We will gather together, weather permitting, to follow body prayers and chants from the many cultures of the earth.

This solstice ritual is dedicated to the healing of the earth.

Look for signs in the park directing you to our space.

Saturday, June 21, 2008 7:00 p.m.

Whetstone Park 3901 N. High St.Columbus OH 43214

For more information contact Thallia at centralohiosufi@yahoo.com or 614-486-9530

or visit one of these websites:

http://www.shalemcenter.org/

http://www.dancesofuniversalpeace.org/

The Dances of Universal Peace are simple, meditative and joyous circle dances that celebrate the variety of spiritual paths on Earth. If you like folk dancing, chanting, and/or simple forms of body movement, you’ll feel at home. No previous experience is needed – just an open and compassionate attitude. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes. Children are welcome!

May 3, 2008 Dances of Universal Peace

May 3, 2008 Dances of Universal Peace will be held from 7 - 9 p.m. at the
Martin de Porres Center at Ohio Dominican University.

Directions to the Center are here.

Sufi Devotional Musicians To Perform in Cleveland on April 17

The Qawwals of Pakistan, Sufi devotional musicians Mehr and Sher Ali, will perform on April 17, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. in Murch Auditorium at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.

Qawwali is is the devotional music of the Sufis to attain trance and mystical experience -- originating in the 10th century and blossoming into its present form from the 13th century onwards.

An ensemble of usually twelve male performers convey a religious message through music and song based on mystic poetry by Sufi masters. The texts usually deal with divine love ('ishq), the sorrow of separation (hijr, firaq) and the union (visal), these concepts being symbolically reinforced and illustrated by the music. Qawwali blends Iranian and Central Asian poetic, philosophical and musical elements into a North Indian base, combining popular music with classical traditions.

Mehr and Sher Ali were born in the Pakistani border-town of Kasur in the early 1950s and received their earlier training in classical music from their father who was a court classical singer at the small Sikh principality of Patiala (now in India).

Kemal Karpat Lecture - Jews and Turks: A Model of Coexistence

Jews and Turks: Model of Coexistence

PLEASE NOTE THE DATE CHANGE

Dr. Kemal Karpat will deliver a lecture entitled "Jews & Turks: Model of Coexistence" discussing the relations between the Turkish-Muslim population and the Jewish population in the Ottoman State. The event is organized by SEF, and sponsored by Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity, and Students for Dialogue at OSU. The lecture is open to the public.

Date: 24 April 2008, 5:30pm
Location: Dreese Lab 113, OSU Campus
Parking: Tuttle Park Place Garage

About Kemal Karpat
Kemal Karpat is a Turkish historian and professor emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He received his LLB from the University of Istanbul, his MA from the University of Washington and his PhD from New York University. He has previously worked for the UN Economics and Social Council and taught at Montana State University and New York University. He has several books on the history of the Ottoman State such as The Politicization of Islam (Oxford UP, 2001), The Ottoman Past and Today's Turkey (Brill, 2000), An Inquiry into the Social Foundations of Nationalism in the Ottoman State (Princeton UP, 1973).
The Scioto Educational Foundation, SEF, is a non-profit organization whose aim is to promote understanding and respect between the diverse groups of Central Ohio by creating peaceful settings for interaction. It was with the help of community-oriented professionals in industry and academia along with university students that SEF was founded in 2003 as a means to aid the area through education, dialogue, and community service. For more information about SEF, please visit our website.

Sincerely,
Scioto Educational Foundation

Spring Celebration Indian Classical Music Concert

Our friend Hans Utter, who played his sitar for zikrs with Sheikh Firdousi many times, invites us to a house concert on April 18 in Worthington. If you've not been able to attend Hans' house concerts in the past it will be more than worth the effort! - Hilal

Spring Celebration Indian Classical Music Concert

Sitar and Tabla

Friday April 18th,

8 Pm

194 Sinsbury Dr. Worthington, Ohio 43085

Light refreshments will be provided

Hans Utter: Sitar

Jim Fiest: Tabla

“Hans Utter is a name to reckon with in Indian classical music… brings to light the various aspects of Indian classical music … one of the most talented names in the industry” The Telegraph, Calcutta, India. May 16 2007.

The Performers

Hans Utter has studied sitar with master sitarist Ustad Shujaat Khan of the Imdad Khan Gharana for the past decade. He performs regularly in the US, Europe and India.

Jim Feist has been performing and teaching the tabla for the last 16 years. He has traveled to India several times to learn tabla from the late, legendary Ustad Allah Rakha, and Vibhav Nageshkar. He has performed around the world with a variety of artists.

RVSP/ INFO

614.436.0489

www.hansutter.com

www.classicaltabla.com

Spring Equinox Ziraat Ritual

Friday, March 21st is the spring equinox and the Columbus Sufi Circle will gather to celebrate the turn and balance of the year with a Ziraat ceremony. This ritual was created by Hazrat Inayat Khan, using metaphors of farming to contemplate spiritual growth and it's encouragement. You are invited to bring a reading, a song, a dance, a thought, an object for the altar that represents those ideas. We will meet in the yard behind 170 and 172 E. Maynard Ave. at 7:30 or so. please call Hilal at 614-446-3337 or Khaliqah at 614-447-2084 for more information.

This Saturday's Zikr is Cancelled

I didn't realize that the Simply Living Conference was this weekend, we will reschedule later. So no zikr on March 8.

Zikr Allah, Saturday 3/8/08 ; Universal Worship Sunday 3/23/08

If you are wise like the Friend of God,

the fire is water to you, especially this fire of Love,

which is the soul of all waters . . . and you are a moth.

But the ignorant moth behaves differently than we do:

it sees the light and ends up in the fire.

The heart of the mystic sees fire and goes into the Light.

A fire has been made to look like water,

while within the apparent fire is a real fountain.

-- Mathnawi V:438; 442-443; 445

Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski

"Rumi: Jewels of Remembrance"

Threshold Books, 1996

Join us on Saturday, 3/8 aty Zawiyya al Mu'min, 1000 Urlin Ave. apt1507 . 6pm potluck dinner, 7:30 pm Zikr Allah - call Hilal at 614-446-3337 for more info

See the fire and go into the Light

Universal Worship, Sunday, February 24

Join the Columbus Sufi Circle for the Universal Worship of Hazrat Inayat Khan The sevice combines readings from the world's religions and the prayers of Hazrat Inayat Khan with meditation, poetry, song. Followed by a potluck lunch.
Sunday, February 24, 11 am at Zawiyya alMu'min, 1000 Urlin Ave., Apt 1507
The door will be unlocked, please just come in and be welcome!

A chance to understand others

"We often suffer because we do not understand. Understanding is a great thing, once we understand,we can tolerate." Hazrat Inayat Khan



My friends, an opportunity to work on cross-cultural understanding is beginning soon at Scioto Educational Foundation. SEF is looking for Americans who would like to meet with a non-native speaker of English for an hour or so every week for conversation. There are several purposes for this program - to welcome a guest to this country and help them feel at home, to learn about another culture and represent your own, to make a friend - " to understand" ... and "tolerate".

Reminder: If you would like to participate, and I hope you will, please fill out the form and send it to hilal1001@sbcglobal.net

http://www.sefohio.org/resources/ConversationPartner.doc

We will have a party for partners to meet each other on March 1 at SEF

A Lenten Retreat

You are invited to a Lenten Retreat, a time away to prepare for Holy Week and Easter, or to simply deepen your spiritual life and enjoy the return of spring! Saturday, March 15, from 9 to 2 pm this will happen just south of Rio Grande, Ohio, in the beautiful foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in southeast Ohio. A lodge at Camp Francis Asbury will be ours for the day -- quiet, nestled in the woods, about 5 miles south of Rts. 35 and 325. The flow of our time will focus on The Lord's Prayer in English and Aramaic, the language of Jesus. We will experience traditional and perhaps new devotional modalities inlcuding simple circle dances, body prayer, and walking the labyrinth in the woods behind our lodge. I am sure you will have an inspiring and uplifting day. A delicious and healthy lunch will nourish your body even as the retreat and those attending it will nourish your soul.

Feel free to contact me for information or directions.

Please forward this invitation and flyer on your email lists or to anyone you think may be interested.

Thank you. Grace and peace to you,

Sherron

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Come away ~ To a Lenten Retreat ~ a time to

pray ~ a time to reflect ~ a time to learn ~ a time to

deepen ~ a Holy Sabbath ~ talking

with Jesus ~ through his

prayer ~ in his language ~ Aramaic

~ dance ~ song ~ meditation ~ walking ~

nature ~ art ~ labyrinth ~ ~ sharing ~ chanting ~

steal away ~ to Jesus ~ ~ we come… ~

Sat. ~ March 15 ~ 2008 ~ 9 am ~ 2 pm ~ $45



Camp Francis Asbury ~ Rio Grande ~ SE Ohio


Rev. Sherron Courneen, MDiv, MA. United Methodist Minister,
Chaplain, Writer, Teacher of the Aramaic Jesus Work
and Dances of Universal Peace


For registration and directions:
sherroncourneen@aol.com
or 740-245-5392


All are welcome ~ Childcare if requested
Lunch included ~ Semi-accessible ~ Scholarships available

Potluck meal and Zikr Allah, February 8, 2008; Lead your senses to the green meadows of the Realities

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When one sheep of the flock jumps over a stream,
they all jump across on each other's heels.
Drive the sheep, your senses, to pasture:
Let them feed on the pasture shown by
"He who has brought forth the herbage,"*
that they may graze on hyacinth and wildrose;
and be led to the green meadows of the Realities;
that every one of your senses
may become a prophet to the others,
and lead all senses into Paradise.

Mathnawi II: 3242-3245
Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski
"Rumi: Daylight"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Please join the Columbus Sufi Circle for a potluck meal at 6:00 on 2/8/2008 followed at 7:30 by Zikr Allah, let us " feed on the pasture shown by the One who has brought forth herbage."

Zawiyya al Mu'min

1000 Urlin Ave, #1507

Grandview Heights, OH

43212

Call Hilal at 614-446-3337 for more information

The door will be open, just come in whenever you arrive.

The Dances of Universal Peace are simple, meditative, and joyous circle dances that celebrate the variety of spiritual paths on Earth.

They may be seen as a modern day expression of ancient practices of body prayer.

Everyone with an open and willing attitude is welcome to attend.

No experience necessary. All movements are taught.

Children are welcome in the dance circle.

There is no fee to participate; however, donations are gladly

accepted (and needed) to cover expenses.

7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Columbus Mennonite Church

35 Oakland Park Avenue

Columbus, Ohio 43214

(Just east of High St. in Clintonville,

one block north of North Broadway)

2008 Dates

February 2 – Remember Who You Are

March 29 – The Earth Springs Forth

May 3 – Special Event with national Dances of Universal Peace guest leaders

June 21 – Solstice Elemental Peace Ritual (at Whetstone Park)

For more information contact

Thallia Blight at centralohiosufi@yahoo.com or 614-486-9530

SEF sponsored lecture

This is just a kind reminder about the Jill Carroll lecture on "Dialogue of Civilizations" this Friday. Please find details about the lecture below.

Kind Regards,
SEF
Jill Carroll on "Dialogue of Civilizations"

Jill Carroll, a member of the Religious Studies Department at Rice University in Houston-TX, will deliver a lecture titled "Dialogue of Civilizations." Dr. Carroll will talk about Mr. Fethullah Gulen and her latest book
"A Dialogue of Civilizations: Gulen's Islamic Ideals and Humanistic Discourse."

The lecture will take place at the Ohio State University - Hagerty Hall 180. The program will begin at 6:30PM on the 25th of January (Friday). Parking is available at OSU Campus. For parking information, click here.

Dr. Carroll will also be a guest of Fred Andrle on his program Open Line at WOSU Radio. The program begins at 10:00AM on the 25th of January, 2008.

Dr. Jill Carroll holds a Ph.D. in religious studies from Rice University, and currently is the executive director of the Boniuk Center for the Study and Advancement of Religious Tolerance.

TUESDAY Jan 15th - 37th URS - Hazrat Samuel L. Lewis

Tomorrow we are celebrating the life of Murshid Samuel Lewis (1896 -1971) who brought forth the Dances of Universal Peace (Sufi Dancing), and spread the powerful message of the unity of heart, which exists within all the world's religious traditions.

A bit more about Samuel Lewis and this Urs:
Traditionally Sufi's celebrate the passing of great souls. 'Urs' means wedding night - in mystical terms it's the celebration of the reunification with the Divine. We are celebrating the life of the man who brought forth the 'Dances of Universal Peace', and the message that peace is within reach when we eat dance and pray together.
Born to Jewish parents, Samuel Lewis was an American born mystic who transcended traditional boundaries like nobody's business. He was a Sufi under Pir-o-Murshid Hazrat Inayat Khan and a recognized Zen Roshi under Sensei Nyogen Senzaki, as well as a direct disciple of Indian guru Ram Das, and he was a noted bible scholar, regularly invited to speak at Christian Colleges. Want more info? A beautiful write-up is available at: http://marinsufis.com/murshid.php

Universal Worship on January 20

Please join the Columbus Sufi Circle for a Universal Worship Service at 11 am on Sunday, January 20 at Zawiyya al Mu'min, 1000 Urlin Avenue, Apartment 1507, Grandview Heights, Ohio. The service combines readings from many world religions on a single theme with songs or chants and is followed by a potluck meal and sohbet, spiritual conversation. If you need more information, including directions, please e-mail Hilal at hilal1001@sbcglobal.net or call 614-446-3337

Documentary at OSU

Flamenco & MA Caravan and Presents



Documentary Screening

USTAD NUSRAT FATEH ALI KHAN

Le Dernier Prophete/The Last Prophet

Friday, January 11th, 6:30pm. Hagerty Hall 100, Auditorium

Free and open to public

FCaravan is offering this inside look at the life, music, and heritage of one of the world's great musicians of recent times: Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. The documentary visits with the artist in his home country of Pakistan before his death, and also takes a brief look at his fan base around the world. Lots of good music and lots of information is to be had here.

Flamenco & Multi-Cultural Arts Caravan | www.fcaravan.org