 Samia Wakkinen
January 2006
A bit about my background – I grew up in the Rocky Mountain area,
living in a number of wonderful places: Grand Canyon, Rocky Mountain
National Park, and
I have been a spiritual seeker all my life and have strayed
into Course in Miracles, Zen, etc. In 1989, I was living in Las Cruces
and attending the Unity church there. I was first introduced to Dances
of Universal Peace and Selim at that point (and fell in love with
both). That summer, I attended my first Sufi camp with him at Mendocino
Woods. We have been together since, marrying in 1995. My first
involvement with SSC was in the same year, when we joined a group for
the first camp out at Bear Creek. We became charter member donors and,
later, residential members. I attended a number of camps, with and
without Selim. I was initiated into the Ruhaniat on the banks of Bear
Creek. I have since been involved with all of the archeological work on
the land, including the three archeology camps where I served as crew
chief, photographer, and mapmaker. I also served on the board as
secretary, on the first burial garden committee, and continue to serve
on the advisory council. I hope to continue my precious relationships
with Sufism, SSC, the land, and all of you.
In Love and Service,
Samia
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 Susanne Bell
October 2005
Living in Southern Oregon for the past twenty years had been
wonderful for Rashad and me. It had been a wonderful place to raise
our three children, and for our work; mine with young children and later
with teen parents, and his in substance abuse counseling. As the 90's
came, we began to talk of dreams and hopes we had for the soon to be
coming "retirement years". We knew we wanted to do something
different. I dreamed of going to India to work with Mother Theresa.
Rashad had been very active in Habitat for Humanity, and we talked
about their work in other countries. We pondered the Peace Corp.
Then in the fall of 1993, Rashad came to me with twinkles in his
eyes, and said, "I think maybe I have found something we may be
interested in." He had just read an article in the latest Ruhaniat
newsletter. In an article Murshid Moineddin shared his vision of a
land based community in the southwest. Murshid saw a retreat center, with a
small residential community living on the land and creating community.
Well, I was entranced!
But to back up a little; Rashad and I had been together about ten
years at that time. He had steadfastly, and quietly continued his sufi
study and practices, but I knew little of this path. I had been
involved in Hindu Practice, and also the study of Course in Miracles.
Now I wanted very much to see if my heart could also sing to the sufi
path. A few months later Rashad read that Wali Ali was coming to
Ashland to do a weekend retreat. We signed up! The weekend was
wonderful for me. I knew this was a most precious path, and one I
wanted very much to study. During the next two years Rashad became
one of the core people involved in the vision of the Southwest Sufi
Community. I joined in with Rashad in the Ashland Sufi Heart Circle
events each month; Dances of Universal Peace Gathas and Zikr.
Soon after the Bear Creek land was purchased in 1995, Rashad , who
was serving as the first President of the SSC Board, visited the land.
When he returned the light in his heart was so clear! We knew we
wanted to truly become a part of this incredible vision.
However, our retirements dates seemed worlds away. I remember
after my first visit to the land, I began to say, "we will be moving
soon!" Then in the autumn of 1997, Rashad was offered an early
retirement option, and in the autumn of 1998 we realized our dream of
moving to New Mexico, quite a few years sooner then our expected
retirement time! I know now this happened in various ways, for many
of us!
Soon a little Sufi community began to sprout up in Silver City.
Even though at first our primary home was in town, we spent as much
time as possible on the land. Also at this time I began to think deeply of
one of my life dreams. I wanted to go to Mother India! I drew a
little map of India, and put myself, and our son Nicho, in the middle
of the map, and hung it on our wall.
The following October the extraordinary teachers, Anahata and
Prema came to the SSC for a week. They had traveled to India with a group of
woman to offer the Tara Dance the year before, and were planning
another pilgrimage for the winter of 1999. We shared precious time together
that week. Several days after the retreat was over I received a phone
call from them. They asked me if I would like to be the registrar for
their next pilgrimage, and so it began.
That first trip to India we went to Sera Jey Monastery in Southern
India and I met my first Tibetan Monks, visited my first Tibetan
Buddhist Monastery; and deeply planted seeds in my heart began to grow.
Returning home I began to read more about Tibetan Buddhism, and His
Holiness the Dalai Lama. I was strongly drawn to this tradition, but
it just seemed so big! I just did not know where to begin; where to
actually jump into the practice. About a year later I went again with
Anahata and Prema on their third pilgrimage. This was to be a Tara
Pilgrimage to Northern India and Nepal, very focused on Tibetan
Buddhist Practice, especially sacred Tara Dance. We pilgrims were asked to
prepare for the pilgrimage by doing specific Tibetan Buddhist practice,
focused on Tara. I set aside how big it was, and just entered with all
my heart into the practice. On the pilgrimage we met many precious
Tibetan Lamas. I had the opportunity to offer Tara sacred dance to Hi
Holiness Orgun Trinely Dorje, the 17th Karmapa, as well as take refugee
vows with Him. My heart seeds were now flowers beginning to bloom. I
had felt in my first step on India ground I had somehow come home; I
had a growing sense that in Tibetan Buddhism I had also finally and
truly come home. My second trip to India was supposed to be only four
months; but it turned out to be nine months! I studied with His
Holiness the Karmapa, and began to teach English to monks at His
Monastery, as well as several members of His Family. I lived in the
village of Dharamsala where His Holiness, the Dalai Lama lives. I
began to study with His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, and embraced this Loving
Soul as my primary Teacher. I also began to get to know the heart of
the Tibetan Community in exile who lived there.
As I moved deeper and deeper into serious Tibetan Buddhist
Practice, most precious lamas came into my life at the perfect moments
when I needed them. I began to see the incredible courage, hope, and
need of this people in exile. It is one thing to study and be aware of
a exile people; it is another to live with them. As I taught English
and bought English books, I began to see basic needs; shoes, clothes,
shelter and food. So many were doing so courageously without, just for
the chance to live in freedom and study their culture and religion,
without the constant fear of imprisonment, torture, and death that they
faced daily in their beloved motherland of Tibet. I began to listen to
the incredible stories of escape and perseverance. I came to know
that the Chinese Governments' suppression and genocide of the Tibetan People
had not stopped at all. And I began to share the stories of these
precious people whose heart and lives I had embraced. The seeds of our
organization Bodhichitta were born! Friends I contacted were deeply
interested and wanted to help. My practice, and my work with the
Tibetan People showed me wings I did not even know I had!
In December of this year I will make my sixth journey back to
India, where the heart of the Tibetan Culture and Religion now
resides. Our non-profit, Bodhichitta is now almost two years old and
growing. We find sponsorship for young students who have finished the
Tibetan Government provided school years and are ready for college.
Without help college would not be possible. These are extremely well
educated young people, yet without hope of a future without further
education. We also focus on the monastic universities of His Holiness
the Dalai Lama. It is here where I believe the heart of this precious,
altruistic tradition is held. In the years of rigorous study and
prayer, these monks attain the highest levels of monastic scholarship,
then return to the world in love and service. These monasteries are
extremely poor. I know that sometimes meals are skipped, shoes are
patched, medical, dental, and optical needs not met. However, the
dedication and study never wavers. So here we help with any needs we
can, and often with on going sponsorship for an individual. We assist
new comers from Tibet with basic needs in their transition from their
home in Tibet to India.
For me life with the Tibetan community offers everyday
opportunities for service. I hold hands, wipe tears from frightened
eyes of teenagers, and play with children who may never see their
parents again. I sit and talk to the Tibetan woman who gets up a 2 am
each day to make bread she will sell for 3 rupees at the bus stop each
morning, no matter the weather. For each moment I have given of my
time or assistance, I have received a million times more.
When I return to my home at the S.S.C. each year, I rejoice in the
love of our growing community. I feel I come home to understanding and
support of my life from my dearest husband Rashad, that absolutely
humbles me. This same support from our children is another constant
miracle, "go for it mom!" I also feel the blessings of this support
from my community.
I always thought I would be the granny home baking cookies and
making picnics! However, on the less conventional path I have
undertaken, I have felt blessed by my family with even more love and
gratitude.....amazing and precious grace. Here in New Mexico I feel
love, and deep acceptance for how I have given my life to this world in
Mother India. I am so grateful that we support each other as
individuals, as well as a community, to live the paths of our hearts
and souls.
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 Shems Nickle
August 2005
Greetings
Friends ---
Can you
say resistance? As in stubbornness--as in dragging
one's heels? One was well entrenched in Kansas
City, Mo. A thriving, loving, and serving, Ruhaniat
community. Lived in a beautiful home and gardens,
enjoyed a music career that afforded one the opportunity
to play with some truly world-class musicians.
The first-ever Federation Of The Sufi Message
met in comfortable chairs in the living room. (Never
did get that brass plaque, though). In
short, one presented an endless banquet for the
ravenous Naffs. Felt good and pleased, and why would anyone leave for any
other address? I'm staying PUT!
However --- Goddess
had other plans.
In late
November, we had returned to K.C. after the second visit to Silver City. Resistance
to moving away
from all of one's attachments remained high.Certainly,
there were very friendly people in Silver, and a
growing and vital sufi community (with property,
even). Still it wasn't home.
On the night of November 29th, a life changing
event occurred.
Being awakened by what seemed to be "nightmares",
the next thing to come in focus was the ceiling
of the ER. " Sir; you've had a
Grand Mall". Not
only did one have a "Big Shopping Center" but was subsequently
found to have a couple of crushed vertebrae
as well. This did not bode well for continued
service of one's attachments. The band was the
first to go. One can not stand and play an instrument
if one can neither stand or move one's arms
without maximum pain. And --- For
heaven's sake DON'T COUGH!
Other
attachments fell away apace. To be replaced by shiny
new attachments. One of which is the
attachment to a
new life in Silver City. Thanks to the heroic efforts
and constant faith by the Marvelous Basira and Rosealie
(may She be pleased with them), the move was accomplished
with alacrity and dispatch.
Life Is
Sweet
Love Is
It
Shemsi
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Azima Lila Forest
Pamela Vakila Morgan