Letter from Shaikh David for Suleyman Dede's Urs

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A letter today from Shaikh David Bellak:

Dear Friends:

May this missive find each of you well and that the new year brings you untold blessings and peace in your hearts and in your world.

It was an honour and such a blessing to be able to share with you together in December our evening of remembrance in comradery on the anniversary of the passing of the Master, Jelalud’din Rumi (Mevlana), on 17 December 1273 to become united with the Beloved. This annual commemoration is an acknowledgement of Rumi’s own words, that to be united once again in the presence of Almighty God, known as ‘the Night of Union’ is a time not of sadness for the Lover of the Divine, but joy at coming to journey’s end in union with Him.

Today, 19 January, is also the anniversary of the passing of the late Murshid (Master) Suleyman Hayati Dede on 19 January 1985, through whose efforts much of the Western world came to know about Rumi. It was in his service in the 1970s that I became immersed and cooked in the ‘pot of Divine love (ishq).

I appreciate that for some this was an entirely new experience unlike anything they may have witnessed before, while for others there is perhaps a familiarity, having been exposed to other spiritual ceremonies within the circle of Sufism. But I would hope that regardless of our backgrounds there is a universal desire to know our Lord as He wishes to be known. Our quest is that of learning and living what it is to be a Human Being (insan).

If there is interest there may be those who would like to come together on some regular basis to embark on the Way of learning in the way of Mevlana, perhaps with monthly or more frequent gathering. Please do keep in touch with Christopher or myself. In the meantime I wish you all the best for this unfolding year! I look forward to visiting Liverpool soon.

Eyvallah Hu.

David

Faqir al-Mevlevi

D Bellák • Edinburgh • Scotland

photo of Suleyman Dede from David Bellak - "taken in May 1976 in New York City when he was a guest at and addressing a community there."


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