Hast-o-Neest
Institute of Traditional Studies & Arts
presents a one-day retreat based on
the workshop
‘The Art of Being’ Governing the City called Human Being
“Cushion for your Head”
One Day Spiritual Retreat - Khalwet
"Just sit there right now, don't do a thing, just rest.
For your separation from God, from love, is the hardest work in this world.
Let me bring you trays of food and something that you like to drink.
You can use my soft words as a cushion for you head." Hafiz Shirazi
“Cushion for your Head” will introduce the Sufi “Khalwet”or traditional spiritual retreat – the first in a series of spiritual retreats - to facilitate the seekers of the path to attain “solitude in the crowd”.
As a famous Punjabi verse says:
Haath kaar walae..Dil Yaar walae.
ہتھ کار ولے ،دل یار ولے ..!
Hand busy in work, Heart busy with the Beloved !
Hazrat Bibi A'isha r.a, the wife of the Apostle of Allah (saws), reported: “The first (form) which was started with the revelation to the Messenger of Allah was the true vision in sleep. And he did not see any vision but it came like the bright gleam of dawn. Thenceforth solitude (khalwet) became dear to him and he used to seclude himself in the cave of Hira' where he would engage in tahannuth (and that is a worship for a number of nights) before returning to his family and getting provisions again for this purpose. (Related by Muslim)
From time to time, following the example of the Prophet (saws), the Sufi Saaliks are instructed by his or her Shaykh to go into seclusion for the purpose of re-focusing and drawing nearer to Allah. During the khalwet a special set of practices are given that are specific to the needs of the student. The Shaykh may also prescribe a special diet or exercises.
The benefit of this kind of retreat is to provide an environment free from the distractions of the everyday world. It should be understood though that the retreat is just an intermediate step. The final outcome is "solitude in the crowd" which is to be outwardly, fully participating in society and inwardly with Allah at all times.
Sahibzada Asim Maharvi
(English and Urdu)
Sunday, 5th May 2013
10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Kahna Nau, Ferozepur Road, Lahore
REGISTRATION
By Saturday, 4th May 2013, send name/email/cell number
to hast.o.neest@gmail.com or on 0300 847 1855
(Directions to the venue and the day’s schedule will be provided to those who register for the retreat.)
Expenses: Rs. 1000 per person/Student: Rs. 500 per person
ہتھ کار ولے ،دل یار ولے ..!
Hand busy in work, Heart busy with the Beloved !
Hazrat Bibi A'isha r.a, the wife of the Apostle of Allah (saws), reported: “The first (form) which was started with the revelation to the Messenger of Allah was the true vision in sleep. And he did not see any vision but it came like the bright gleam of dawn. Thenceforth solitude (khalwet) became dear to him and he used to seclude himself in the cave of Hira' where he would engage in tahannuth (and that is a worship for a number of nights) before returning to his family and getting provisions again for this purpose. (Related by Muslim)
From time to time, following the example of the Prophet (saws), the Sufi Saaliks are instructed by his or her Shaykh to go into seclusion for the purpose of re-focusing and drawing nearer to Allah. During the khalwet a special set of practices are given that are specific to the needs of the student. The Shaykh may also prescribe a special diet or exercises.
The benefit of this kind of retreat is to provide an environment free from the distractions of the everyday world. It should be understood though that the retreat is just an intermediate step. The final outcome is "solitude in the crowd" which is to be outwardly, fully participating in society and inwardly with Allah at all times.
Sahibzada Asim Maharvi
(English and Urdu)
Sunday, 5th May 2013
10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Kahna Nau, Ferozepur Road, Lahore
REGISTRATION
By Saturday, 4th May 2013, send name/email/cell number
to hast.o.neest@gmail.com or on 0300 847 1855
(Directions to the venue and the day’s schedule will be provided to those who register for the retreat.)
Expenses: Rs. 1000 per person/Student: Rs. 500 per person
Sahibzada Asim Maharvi
Chishti, born in a Chishti Sufi family, educated in the West, a researcher,
writer and columnist is the founder of Chishtiya Ribbat Sufi Studies Center in
Pakistan. He has delivered lectures on spirituality, comparative religion,
spiritual healing and history of civilizations in Pakistan and abroad. As
chairman of Sufi Studies Center - http://www.chishtiya.org/ - he has examined,
translated and published classical Sufi literature.
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