VOICE FROM KUALA LUMPUR

Jumaatun Azmi ,

Salams and greetings from hazy KL :-)

I'm sorry it took me quite a while to send you some thoughts as requested.

I actually wrote a long email to all of you much earlier but fate has it that the email was wiped out as I was about to attach some pictures.

But I feel it suffice to say that I treasured my experience in Pulau Besar and all the encounters, albeit brief, that I had with each of you.

I feel we all kind of cut through the chase, skipped the small talks and zeroed in on the things that matter. 

And I find that refreshing and pretty amazing.

Thank you for the shared experience and further info- Omar series, pingshuai, neem trees, azan write-up, halal cosmetics, Rumi and everything else :-)

One thing that I'd like to point out is how special and important this group is to me.

I'm only a beginner in this Order. And I felt it was a solitary path that I've chosen for myself after searching from quite young. It is after all, not necessarily accepted or joined by the closest family and friends, even if you wanted it to. 

So I felt really happy to share the retreat with Hazrat Shaykh Hamid and all of you. And I feel a sense of belonging.

That when I retire from the world, in seclusion at night, I know there are all of you, somewhere in another place, doing the same thing as I am, turning our attention towards our hearts.

Which makes me realise, this journey is not that solitary after all. We're joined by our hearts :-)

I was also pleasantly surprised to see Rumi lovers here.  

Here's something from the great Mawlana:

Your longing to Me 

is My message to you

All your attempts to reach Me

are in reality My attempts to reach you.

...

And here's something to motivate us to keep to our meditation:

Submit to a daily practice

Keep knocking

And the Joy inside

Will eventually open a window.

-Jalaluddin Rumi-

Peace and Love,

Ju Azmi