River of Guidance Library

Tuning and Turning Toward the Heart of the One

with Murshid Allaudin Ottinger

Join Murshid Allaudin Ottinger and friends as we tune our human instruments to the notes of love, harmony, and beauty. We'll use sound and silence, music, poetry, Ruhaniat lineage stories, and much more on our travels together. Special attention will be given to Murshid SAM's paper,  Bestowal of Blessing, as well as exploring the graceful state of bewilderment that the Sufis often speak of.

Come, Drink with the Beloved, as the month of March reveals her beauty. Alhamdulillah.

Watch Three - 90 Minute Course Video Recordings

Supplemental Materials for Course

  • We had an inspiring first class tuning and turning toward the heart of the One with Murshid Allaudin. Tuning our hearts is a potent practice for kindling the flame of union in the Heart of the One. Allaudin invoked ‘HIMMA’, the desire, the yearning, the love that turns one toward the Beloved. Ibn ‘Arabi describes ‘himma' as “a hidden potency which is the cause of all movement and all change in the world

    Practice for the week from Allaudin (inspired by Voca Fisk)

    Invoke NEW, NEW, NEW!

    This moment! …Now! ...Opening Breath… Opening Awareness … Breathing in.. Breathing out…. New….New….New!…

    Special attention was given to Murshid SAM's paper, Bestowal of Blessing.

  • For the Second Class, Allaudin shared Saladin a poem by

    Murshid Samuel L. Lewis (Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti)

    We are invited to recite/invoke Al- Fatihah daily.

    This is the opening prayer of the Quran.

    Here is a recording of Allaudin reciting the Fatihah. Listen here.

    Suggested readings:

    Here is an excerpt from From Smiles a small book of Hazrat Inayat Khan's teachings, published by the Sufi Movement.

    Located in Volume XIV - The Smiling Forehead Part II - The Deeper Side of Life Chapter VIII Spirituality, the Tuning of the Heart, Hazrat Inayat Khan

    A teaching from Murshida Vera Murshida Vera

  • We want to thank you for your presence and participation in Murshid Allaudin Ottinger's course. The third class of the series was splendid! We trust you caught the 'Bewilderment' that an open heart can share when it feels and sees the unity and longing of all hearts. Allaudin shared this quote from Murshid SAM's (and Allaudin’s) friend, Joe Miller:

    "As a thing is viewed, so it appears."

    We covered a lot of wisdom ground. You will find some of the gems Allaudin shared.

    Including the Ruhaniat’s Silsila as chanted by Allaudin during this class.

    You will also find practices and readings that inspire our spiritual practice.

    We have Ruhaniat’s Silsilacopies of the book Saladin that Murshid Allaudin referred to and drew from during this class.

    It is part of The Jerusalem Trilogy: Song of the Prophets by Murshid Samuel L. Lewis.

    Email Tarana to obtain your copy, free except for the cost of postage ($8.00 in the USA) tarana.wesley@gmail.com