Feed The People

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.