Last night I had a dream of Sidi. This is only my second
dream I have ever had of him, which I can recall. It was beautiful. I was with
three USHS teachers, not sure which three, and one was standing in front of a
podium asking Sidi if we should move forward with holding a class that night,
in lieu of all that had happened. If we were going to, the teacher explained to
Sidi, we needed to turn the satellite on for it to warm up in time for the
class.
Sidi looked at us and said “Feed the people”. That was
all he said and then I awoke.
It fits Sidi so well. “Feed the people”.
I contemplated it and felt into the many levels of
meanings that statement seems to contain.
First there is the level of physical (body). Sidi was
always taking care of feeding the people with the physical food needed to
sustain their bodies. He knew, way before “Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs” came
along, that in order for people to be able to have the energy or time to seek
the spiritual side of life, they needed their basic needs met. We are to
continue to carry on that work of sharing what we have with those that don’t
have.
Second there is the level of emotional (heart). Sidi gave
us the gifts of the healing prayers, surah’s, and remedies. Once people are
cared for physically, they can see the need for emotional feeding, healing, and
support. And as it goes, when emotional healing happens more physical health
and healing happen as well.
Third there is the level of mental (mind). Sidi blessed
us with many books that teach what he learned from his teachers. The message of
Peace, Love, Mercy, Justice, and Freedom that was passed down from the very
first teacher and founder of the Shadhiliyya path, Abul Hasan Ali ash-Shadhili. Once we are physically
cared for and emotionally healthy we can then begin to search for meaning to
our existence. That starts with studying the teachings and learning the cosmology
of the Sufi path.
Fourth there
is the level of the spiritual (soul). This is where the rubber hits the road.
Once all other needs are met and the spark of our divine purpose is ignited we
will seek how to live that out. How do we now, take what we have been given,
and feed the people. How do we practice surrendering to Allah and moving from a
place of integrity within our essence to express that moment to moment;
interaction to interaction.
At each of
these levels there is a way for us, in that place, to feed the people around us
or in a place that we have just come from. Sidi has never asked us to be that
which we are not. He has always challenged us to be who we are and to serve
Allah and people (which are really reflections of Allah).
And the best
part of all of this is – you don’t have to be a Sufi to do this or understand
this. Every mystical path contains this, using their own vocabulary or concept
for “The One”. Every spiritual path has value. Sufism works for me, and that is
why I write about it. But it doesn’t mean I think it is what everyone must be
or follow. How boring would that be?!
I pray I am
able to “Feed the people (and animals)” in a way that is honest with what I am.
I pray we all can do the same. Feed the bodies, hearts, minds, and souls of our
fellow humans and animals we share this planet with. Blessings to you all.
