November 2011
Dear Ones:
There are many young people today in our sufi community and in the world in general who are hungry for the opportunity to actually live a life guided by spiritual ideals. Many young adults today also have a passionate interest in sustainability. Many others, no matter their age, also long to find community where they can live naturally and sustainably, with love and gratitude for this magnificent, sacred nature that is the fabric of our lives, the display of God, our scripture, guide and teacher.
At the Southwest Sufi Community there is a renewed sense of hope that working together we can create a living model of sustainability: a residential, spiritual community where the emphasis is on being, becoming, presence and awareness, rather than 'having.' Our prayer is that we can truly manifest a community that encourages living the values promoted in the classical scripture of all spiritual traditions, where freedom is found "in" work (rather than "from" work) in the practice of "work as devotional prayer".
The vision we seek is a life based on living simply in nature and sharing spiritual practices, guided by the spiritual values common to all major traditions, what Hazrat Inayat Khan calls the Unity of Spiritual Ideals. The SSC land is a place where the seeds of this vision have been planted, a place where young people and others can put their energy and ideals into practice. The soil and water here invite us to grow healthy food. The adobe clay encourages us to build dwellings in a sustainable fashion; respectful of nature and all life forms we share this land with. The beauty of the land calls us to practice in daily life the sufi ideals we cherish.
We believe the time is ripe to act on this vision. However, the actual realization of such a spiritually based sustainable community, an alternative to the worship of the idols of consumption based social order, will require that we act together, with the understanding that gives us faith in what is greater than ourselves. We ask you to join with us in support of an opportunity for young people and others, to join their hands and hearts looking for ways to create a more compassionate world.
Partnering with our neighbor, Darvesha, the SSC intends to sponsor an extended Youth Gathering next summer. Participants will be offered the opportunity to join in the camp, as they are able during the summer months. The focus of the gathering will include shared spiritual practices guided by Darvesha. There will be time-spent learning by doing, including building and agricultural projects. Time will also be set aside for hiking and wilderness adventures.
Your willingness to offer your support will help make this summer living in spiritual community experience for young people a reality. By freeing up some of the fees we currently collect from community participants and retreatants, now needed to service our loan debt, your gift will make possible transformation in the lives of the camp participants and support for the creation of model of natural and sustainable living guided by spiritual ideals.
Much love,
Pir Shabda Kahn
Spiritual Guide of the Southwest Sufi Community
Please include my gift in the seeds needed to grow this vision of sustainability, grounded in the wisdom of the great spiritual traditions:
Name (printed) ____________________________________________________________________________
Annual Supporter Donation: $50, Or, amount of donation $ ____________________________ Or, you can donate online:
Please go to the Facebook page, Southwest Sufi Community: From your browser, type in the key words “Southwest Sufi Community” and “Facebook”
Or the URL below. You do not need to be logged into Facebook to donate.
https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Southwest-Sufi-Community/182972718422230
The donate button is on the left hand side of the page
I need a written receipt for my donation: Yes _______ No ________
Send to:
SSC, P.O. Bo 373, Silver City, NM 88062
May you be blessed for your generous heart!