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the
HUMAN
ROSE
A Sufi Retreat with
Fazalunissa Carole Harmon,
Jelaluddin Gary Sill and
David Murray
Fazalunissa Carole Harmon,
Jelaluddin Gary Sill and
David Murray
Saturday and Sunday,
November 12 and 13, 2016
November 12 and 13, 2016
Updated: 2016.07.06
“The soul becomes like a rose and begins to show the rose quality. The rose holds together many petals, and so the person who comes to the unfoldment of the soul begins to show many different qualities. These qualities emit fragrance in the form of a spiritual personality.
The rose comes and fades away, but the essence that is taken from the rose lives and keeps the fragrance that it had in its full bloom.
It is like the perfume of the rose that the atmosphere of the spiritual being pervades all.”.
The rose comes and fades away, but the essence that is taken from the rose lives and keeps the fragrance that it had in its full bloom.
It is like the perfume of the rose that the atmosphere of the spiritual being pervades all.”.
Inayat Khan
The Human Rose Retreat
In troubled times, discernment and focus of mind with heart, can lead an individual to a deep attunement
to living in a loving and harmonies manner,
to living in a loving and harmonies manner,
who might you be
human rose, outer petals
trembling in the breeze
inner swirl guarding your seeds
FCH
Just as there is a mystical aspect to the sun which sources all radiance, all forms of light and heat such as candle, fire, electric light, there is an esoteric relationship between human and plant which may be seen in our reverence for the rose. The rose blooms many petaled, it’s seeds held deep within it’s centre. It’s fragrance scents the air long after it’s earthly bloom has faded.
"It is in unfoldment that the purpose of life is fulfilled. ... Not in the gathering of the clouds was a purpose accomplished, it was accomplished in the raining; the gathering was a preparation. ... The soul can be likened to the rose, and as a rosebud blooms so the soul unfolds itself. For the rosebud to bloom five conditions are required: fertile soil, bright sun, water, air and space. And the same five things are required for the unfoldment of the soul.... Every soul has been born to unfold itself.... "
Inayat Khan
Inayat Khan
The water which nourishes the soul is love, the warmth of the sun is intelligence, air is represented by the inspiration of the heart and space by a wide view of life.
Through inner concentration and contemplation the soul produces rose-like qualities in the form of a spiritual personality. As the rose exhibits a beautiful structure, the human rose unfolds it’s subtle nature through manner, kind relations with others, speech and action. Nourishing a wide view of life balances the hysteria and fear of modern times.
In the community of this retreat we will direct our hearts and minds toward a personal invocation of life as an unfolding divine gesture of love, harmony, and beauty.
Through inner concentration and contemplation the soul produces rose-like qualities in the form of a spiritual personality. As the rose exhibits a beautiful structure, the human rose unfolds it’s subtle nature through manner, kind relations with others, speech and action. Nourishing a wide view of life balances the hysteria and fear of modern times.
In the community of this retreat we will direct our hearts and minds toward a personal invocation of life as an unfolding divine gesture of love, harmony, and beauty.
A Search Into the Meaning
of the Service of the Universal Worship
of the Service of the Universal Worship
A Geometric Pursuit into its Form and Symbolism
A particular focus will be on Sufi ritual with an investigation of how Sacred Geometry is recognized and expressed. There will be an opportunity to participate in the Sufi Universal Worship service on the Sunday morning.
Through identifying and relating to the symmetries in abstract space we can re-balance our own being with resulting benefits to our personal expression of life in the world.
Retreat Guides
Fazalunissa Harmon | "The Discerning Heart"
Jelaluddin Sill | "De-concentrating the World of Variety"
David Murray | "Sacred Geometry; Inspiration and Guidance"
Jelaluddin Sill | "De-concentrating the World of Variety"
David Murray | "Sacred Geometry; Inspiration and Guidance"
Fazalunissa Carole Harmon
Jelaluddin Gary Sill
David Murray
Fazalunissa Harmon and Jelaluddin Sill have been teachers and guides in the Sufi Movement in Canada for many years. They bring a depth of spiritual insight and profound attunement to their artistic, outer and spiritual work. Participants have benefited from their compassionate nature, their broad knowledge and their gentle humour. Together, they co-lead the Vancouver Sufi Centre.
David Murray has been a Sufi teacher and leader for many years and through a light-hearted and loving approach, he brings new insights to understanding the Sufi path. As an architect, he is naturally drawn to explore Sacred Geometry, prayer and chant. David is the Canadian National Representative for the International Sufi Movement. He is also a Siraj (senior conductor) in the Universal Worship service.
Times. Locations and Program Notes
SATURDAY
November 12, 9:30AM to 9:30PM
(with lunch and dinner breaks)
November 12, 9:30AM to 9:30PM
(with lunch and dinner breaks)
Morning and Afternoon Session
9:30PM - 5:00PM
We will spend the day in the home of Jelaluddin and Fazalunissa with an excursions out into the beautiful grounds of the VanDusen Gardens. The program will offer open hearted discussion and experience of the Sufi mystical view and it’s hidden benefit to our daily lives combined with spiritual practices which enhance both meditation and concentration.
We will share lunch in Truffle’s Café in the VanDusen Garden.
Locations:
The Vancouver Sufi Centre
(455 East 17 Avenue)
and the VanDusen Botanical Gardens
(5251 Oak Street at West 37 Avenue)
9:30PM - 5:00PM
We will spend the day in the home of Jelaluddin and Fazalunissa with an excursions out into the beautiful grounds of the VanDusen Gardens. The program will offer open hearted discussion and experience of the Sufi mystical view and it’s hidden benefit to our daily lives combined with spiritual practices which enhance both meditation and concentration.
We will share lunch in Truffle’s Café in the VanDusen Garden.
Locations:
The Vancouver Sufi Centre
(455 East 17 Avenue)
and the VanDusen Botanical Gardens
(5251 Oak Street at West 37 Avenue)
Evening Session
7:30PM - 9:30PM
Following a dinner break we will reconvene at the home of Jelaluddin and Fazalunissa for a final discussion and the deep and peaceful practice of the Singing Zikar.
Location:
Vancouver Sufi Centre
455 17 Avenue East (between Main & Fraser)
7:30PM - 9:30PM
Following a dinner break we will reconvene at the home of Jelaluddin and Fazalunissa for a final discussion and the deep and peaceful practice of the Singing Zikar.
Location:
Vancouver Sufi Centre
455 17 Avenue East (between Main & Fraser)
at retreat: March, 2013, Van Duesen Gardens, Vancouver
GENERAL INQUIRIES
SUNDAY MORNING
November 13, 9:30AM to 1:00PM
November 13, 9:30AM to 1:00PM
Perhaps there is no better expression of our shared spiritual experience than Universal Worship. The qualities of Love, Harmony and Beauty are drawn together in a beautiful realization of divine consciousness. This ceremony respects all human spiritual expressions, known and unknown.
Afterwards, there will be a social time and our goodbyes.
Location:
The Vancouver Sufi Centre
Afterwards, there will be a social time and our goodbyes.
Location:
The Vancouver Sufi Centre
Accommodation Note
The Best Western Uptown hotel is within an easy walk of the Vancouver Sufi Centre (Jelaluddin and Fazalunissa’s home).
Lunch Note
The VanDusen Garden has a Cafeteria style restaurant.
Handy for lunch.
Handy for lunch.
What to Bring
• Vancouver weather in November can be wet. Think about bringing an umbrella, raincoat and waterproof footwear. So far, the retreats at this time of year have been wonderfully sunny and dry, but…
• Some of the practices are on the floor so bring a meditation cushion or rug if you have one. Chairs are available for those that need or want them.
from the great Sufi poet, Hafiz…
It Felt Love
How
Did the rose
Ever open its heart
And give to this world
All its
Beauty?
It felt the encouragement of light
Against its
Being.
Otherwise,
We all remain
Too
Frightened.