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The USA Tour 2019: A Total Success
30th August 2019|Activities

The USA Tour 2019: A Total Success

The USA Tour 2019: A Total Success

We had a tremendous few weeks here in the USA during our tour of the West Coast! Our international team of delegates travelled between Mount Shasta (Yreka, CA), Los Angeles (CA), Phoenix (AZ), Sedona (AZ), Taos (NM), Tempe (AZ) and Ojai (CA) for a series of events promoting the Messiah Foundation International’s universal message of divine love and spirituality. The CEO of MFI, Sufi Spiritual Revivalist Younus AlGohar, was the keynote speaker at the programmes. The President of MFI UK, Rev. Shaykh Steve Bell, and the President of MFI USA, Shaykha Azucena Avila, also addressed our audiences. 

It is with bittersweet feelings that we wrap up this incredible tour – while our international team of delegates are sad for it to end, we are equally excited as we look forward to our upcoming events around the world. 
2019-July to August-TOUR-USA Summer 2019

Here are some of our favourite moments from this tour.

Mount Shasta Spiritual Heart Activation Event (With 5D Events) was the first event of our tour. It was located at the sacred grounds of Mount Shasta in Yreka. This two-day seminar was attended by spiritualists from all around California and Arizona. Sufi Younus AlGohar and Rev. Steve Bell spoke about topics like Spiritual Without Religion, Liberating Your Inner Person and The Living Jesus. Free spiritual healing and Activation of the Heart were offered. The Ring of Love on the final day – where all participants gathered to dance and sing in a joyous celebration of love and unity – was particularly powerful.

One member of the audience grasped Sufi Younus AlGohar’s hand and declared, ‘Thank you. Jesus was here, I just know it.’ 

Another participant exclaimed, ‘As soon as I saw your aura, I knew you were the real deal.’

The Opening of the Spiritual Heart Ceremony (Unity of Sedona) was arranged by the Unity of Sedona catering especially to the Native American community of Sedona. Shaykh Nadeem Siddiqui sang Sufi songs and Rev. Shaykh Steve Bell granted every member of the audience the Activation of the Spiritual Heart. 

Universal Sufi Dhikr at the Lama Foundation was one of the most significant events in the history of the Messiah Foundation International. For the admirers of His Divine Eminence Gohar Shahi, there is nothing more memorable than the scenes from the Dome at the Lama Foundation spiritual retreat centre (Taos, New Mexico). His Divine Eminence Gohar Shahi, in His majestic splendour, had been seated at the centre of the room. People of all colours, religions and backgrounds had joined hands as they circumambulated around Him. The sounds of their voices as they chanted ‘Allah’ in unison were not just pleasant to listen to; they represented the undeniable truth that in the presence of His Divine Eminence, humankind could be unified. That was July 1997.

In July 2019, 22 years later, we returned. For our team, going to the Lama Foundation was a spiritual pilgrimage of sorts. 

 

 

 

We were warmly welcomed by the residents of the Lama Foundation. Sufi Younus AlGohar first gave a short speech on Sufism. Then, in an act of exceptional spiritual bounty, Sufi Younus AlGohar personally granted every individual Activation of the Spiritual Heart.

What followed was a short Sufi Dhikr. Shaykh Nadeem Siddiqui and members of MFI USA then performed a Sufi dance to the majestic name, ALRA.⁣ To end this wonderful ceremony, a Q&A session was held, where many of the aspirants enthusiastically asked questions one after the other.

Every single person who entered the Dome that evening left it transformed. Divine power, might and rapturous love overwhelmed the spiritual senses of everyone there.

Sabina Jones, a volunteer at the Lama Foundation, said, ‘I am forever grateful and I will remember the things that were said…During the Dhikr, when I was sitting there and you were all dancing around us, I closed my eyes and I felt myself with God.’

Another resident at the Lama Foundation exclaimed, ‘During the Dhikr when one of your members was in the centre, the way the voices felt – it felt like his voice was surrounding the Sun – like the Sun was here and his voice was reaching up there.’

NUWTC’s Leaders in Action for Global Transformation Symposium was a special event held in Phoenix, Arizona where over 25 spiritual leaders from different communities came together to discuss how to work together for the betterment of humanity. Sufi Younus AlGohar delivered a very special talk on how to improve our global society practically with the help of the spiritual sciences, leaving an everlasting impression on the audience. Rev. Steve Bell conducted the Heart Activation Ceremony and Shaykh Nadeem Siddiqui led the Ring of Love where everybody joined hands in chanting, singing and dancing.

The Shrine of Holy Wisdom Heart Activation Ceremony in Tempe, Arizona was another hugely successful programme. Suf Younus AlGohar spoke about how to transform the human heart into a Shrine of Holy Wisdom practically. This event was attended by local leaders and aspirants of the spiritual path alike. Spiritual healing was performed followed by the Dastar-e-Fazilat Ceremony welcoming two new members to the rank of ‘Shaykh’. ⁣

Sufi Younus AlGohar then led an impromptu Transcendental Meditation session and all attendees were invited to join hands in a circle. Sufi Younus AlGohar explained his intentions to introduce everybody to individuals in the spiritual realm. He led the chanting of ‘ALRA’ and then the mantras ‘RA’ and ‘MA’ (relating to the Sun and Moon respectively). Thereafter, the mantras ‘RAMA’ and ‘ALRA’ were chanted again. The feeling of the room was very trance-like and everyone was engulfed by the immense divine energy and love in the atmosphere.

Urban Wellness Center Heart Activation Ceremony was organised by Shaykha Azucena Avila in Phoenix, Arizona. Rev. Shaykh Steve Bell delivered the opening talk, explaining the mission and message of the Messiah Foundation international. 

Thereafter, Sufi Younus AlGohar took the stage to discuss applied spiritual sciences. A questions and answers session followed and a Dastar-e-Fazilat ceremony was held to award a wonderful gentleman with the title of ‘Shaykh’. 

John Hinton, a spiritualist who had the honour of hosting His Divine Eminence Gohar Shahi in his home in 1997, was overjoyed to be there. As fate would have it, he had attended this programme not knowing it was arranged by the followers of HDE Gohar Shahi. He embraced Sufi Younus AlGohar and tearfully told our team about his fond memories of HDE Gohar Shahi. We were honoured to partake in this delightful reunion with such a wonderful person.

The Iman Cultural Center for Peace and Tranquility in Los Angeles, California, was the venue of our penultimate programme with 5D Events. This event was attended by many members from the local Iranian and Turkish community as well as the broader spiritualist community. Every member of the audience was individually granted Activation of the Spiritual Heart and given extra special blessings by Sufi Younus AlGohar.

An individual who had been watching ALRA TV, the MFI’s official channel, specifically travelled from San Francisco to meet our team and Sufi Younus AlGohar.

The Ojai Center for Spiritual Living in California was the final event in our hugely successful tour – and what a wonderful way to end it! The turnout for this programme exceeded all expectations. It was as if all the residents of this charming town were eagerly awaiting this event. The proverbial red carpet was rolled out as the ceremonial horn was sounded upon Sufi Younus AlGohar’s arrival at the premises. ⁣The whole audience was entranced by Sufi Younus AlGohar’s speech about the celestial form of spirituality. Everyone seemed energetic and enthusiastic during the entire event. A Dastar-e-Fazilat Ceremony was performed for Shaykha Paula and Shayka Helen as they were given the prestigious title of ‘Shaykh’. All participants joined in with a Ring of Love with great enthusiasm and received the Activation of the Spiritual Heart. 

Shortly after the ceremony, Sufi Younus AlGohar individually granted several individuals including Shaykha Paula and Shayka Helen special permission to activate hearts.⁣

Shaykha Helen told our team after the event, ‘’I felt I was with my family. I came home. I was crying: I am home, I am home! This was very beautiful to me.’ 

Shaykha Paula said, ‘’We send His Holiness [Younus AlGohar] with all the love and energy of Ojai as he tours around the world!’ 

Reverend Marilyn Miller, the Minister of the Ojai Center for Spiritual Living said, ‘It was a beautiful experience – we knew it would be. It was so very special. We appreciate all you coming. We appreciate your consciousness, your gift and your presence. I really enjoyed the discourse. I am glad [Sufi Younus AlGohar] is making a world tour.’

Special thanks to Shaykha Azucena Avila, Steve Bell, Saeed David Farman, Dr Sarah Larsen, Robert Newton, Sandie West, Fatima Gonzales, Shaykha Helen, Shaykha Paula, Reverend Marilyn and all others who painstakingly took it to help us with reaching out to people of all walks of life. Thank you for all your support and love as we take our message across cultures and nations. 

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Acknowledging the Divine Presence – Lama Foundation
8th August 2019|Articles

Acknowledging the Divine Presence – Lama Foundation

Acknowledging the Divine Presence – Lama Foundation

The following is a transcript of Sufi Spiritual Revivalist Younus AlGohar’s discussion with residents of the Lama Foundation in Taos, New Mexico.

 

 

I’m very happy spiritually to see all of you turning your faces away from the luxuries of the world and living here in a spiritual retreat. Obviously, that endorses the fact that you are in search for the divine. This effort you are making of shunning the world, turning away from the desires of the world and making this remote area as your abode, is something which can only be a gift from God to you. Not many people who seek the path are able to do what you are doing. 

When we live in luxury and comfort, we become accustomed to it. It is very hard to then take your hands off that luxury and comfort.

We are Sufis. My Master Lord Ra Riaz Gohar Shahi was here in 1997, 22 years ago. In the same hall, sitting in the middle on the armchair, supervising the Sufi Zikar. This is what brought me back here – to share my Sufi thoughts with brothers and sisters like you here. 

I was always inspired by Murshid Sam Lewis who said, ‘The Sun will rise from the West.’

It is remarkable to see how people in the United States of America are turning away from the luxurious and glamorous lifestyle and living here. This is an absolutely impeccable Sufi practice and it is wonderful to see how dedicated you are. What you are doing today – living away from the charms of the world and negating yourself – that is the first lesson in spirituality. 

In the Sufi path, the most important things are purgation and purification of the Lower Self (Nafs) – which is the root of all evil – and at the same time, Activation of the Spiritual Heart. It is the Spiritual Heart which actually lets us connect with God. With the Activation of the Spiritual Heart, we are able to communicate with God and receive messages from God. The first step towards the spiritual journey is the awakening of the Spiritual Heart. This is the threshold of sainthood. 

When I say, ‘The heart must be awakened,’ it means the spiritual functions of the heart must be restored. The spiritual consciousness of the heart has to be obtained. That, of course, comes with the help and teachings of the Spiritual Guide. A Spiritual Guide is delegated by God to implant the seed of love in the hearts and souls.

Rumi said, ‘Your heart is like a mirror, you just need to polish your heart. When your heart is polished, anyone that comes in front of it will reflect in it.’ 

So finding God has been made really easy by our great Sufis. [We have to] polish our hearts and bring an eternal shine upon the screen of the heart. When the heart is perfectly polished, then the divine manifestation takes place. 

The heart is always covered with a lot of layers of heedlessness, worldly desires, lust and many other things. When you are courageous enough to part with the comfort of the luxury, you’re already half a saint. 

This is why Prophet Mohammad said, ‘Cleanliness is half of the faith.’

When the body is dirty, we wash it with water and apply soap. When the hearts are dirty, that dirt is of heedlessness, desires and comforts [of the world]. 

I would like to salute the determination of the individuals who are already living like hermits. They’re really courageous people. Once you become accustomed to the luxuries and comforts of the world, it’s a trap. It’s not easy to come out from the customary luxury and comfort. 

Half of the job is already done when you are living in such remote places.

Now what you need is to learn to polish the heart. When the heart is polished, you don’t need to find God. With a polished heart, wherever God is, he will show up in the mirror of your heart. In order to polish the heart, what we need is eternal remembrance of God which is conducted by the heart itself.

According to the Koran 13:28, ‘You will find content in Zikar Allah (in the remembrance of God)’. 

Those who are not Sufis often misunderstand this verse from the Koran and they carry out the Zikar (invocation0 with their tongue. It is to do with the heart. 

The Sufi path starts with the Activation of the Heart.

Mevlana Rumi said, ‘If the heart is polished and Zikar Allah is established therein, then your heart is like the house of God (Bait ul Rab). Your heart is the Divine Empyrean.’

To bring God in the heart is very important in spirituality.

Most people think that bringing God in the heart is just a metaphor. How will God come in the heart? We don’t know where God is. Well, we don’t know where God is, but Murshid Sam Lewis knows where he is. My Spiritual Guide, HDE Gohar Shahi, knows where he is. 

They tell us, ‘Before we are able to bring God in our hearts, we need God’s permission – whether or not God likes us. Whether or not we are worthy of his friendship. Whether or not we are worthy of his love.’

It is the Spiritual Guide who communicates with God, presents his disciple and asks God if he wishes to love this disciple. 

God’s name that we say with our tongue is just a word. But when it is granted by God himself, through a Spiritual Guide, then that word has divine energy, light and a spirit. That name of God can talk and walk. It is then implanted in the throbs of the heart and then the divine chemistry starts to work. Articulation of the name of God starts with the synchronisation of the name in the beating system of the heart. 

When it is implanted, you have your heart remembering God nonstop – whether you are sleeping, talking to somebody else [or] engaged in any other activity. Even if you are not thinking about God or making any effort to remember him – when the word God, Ram, Allah [or] Bhagwan is implanted in the heart, the heart learns to say the name of the God. Ram, Bhagwan, Elohim, Yahweh are all beautiful names of God. Some people are more prone to word Allah; others want to say Yahweh and the others want to say Elohim. Whichever name of God you have in your language and in your religion, it doesn’t really matter. 

What matters is that the name of God must enter the heart because the heart is the place of love. Love is not a verbal claim.

You people – such wonderful, beautiful people you are. You have left behind all the luxuries. This is a practical example that you have that spark of divine love in your heart. You have that spark. All you need to do is to kindle and give rise to the flame of love inside the heart. 

In no time, you will recognise the presence of God within yourself. Nothing is outside of yourself. 

God said, ‘I am within you, but you do not know how to see me’. 

So we need to learn to acknowledge God’s presence. We need to learn to have this ability with which we can spot the presence of God. All Sufis may be sitting quietly and people think they are saying nothing – but their heart is engaged in the remembrance of God. When the heart is activated and it is engaged in the eternal remembrance of God, then we turn to the soul and we activate the soul as well.

There are seven souls inside our body. Each of them must be awakened and activated with the name of God. There are so many names of God. According to the Koran, there are 99 names of God. Then we have different names in the Bible, Torah and Psalms of David. 

All names which we use to call upon God are worthy of great respect. However, in order to obtain the spiritual grace of the remembrance of God, we want to make sure that Zikar enters the heart.

If you try to eat food but your lips are sealed off, do you think the hunger will go away? No. If you put the food in your nose, your eyes and your ears, you will still be hungry because the food must go through your mouth to enter your stomach. If the food doesn’t enter the stomach, it is not going to benefit you. In a similar way, the remembrance of God must enter the heart. Only then will it show it’s exuberance, magnificence and it’s a manifestation.

Today we are very happy to tell you that we have been delegated to share the method of implanting the name of God in your heart. It is so romantic! You will just be sitting but your heart will be repeating ‘Allah’. Even when you are not thinking about him, your heart will be pounding his name. 

This practice, in which your heart engages in eternal remembrance of God – there is a purpose for it. It’s not just a form of worship.

There’s a reason we eat. Some people eat because they want to enjoy their food, others eat so that they can stay alive and continue their spiritual journey. If we do not eat, we cannot survive. 

Similarly, this eternal remembrance of God is divine food to your heart and soul. When this eternal remembrance takes place in the heart and God’s name is synchronised; the heartbeats repeat the word ‘God’ one after another which generates divine light. That divine light is food to our heart and soul. 

Then starts the process of spiritual progression. We eat food physically so that our body is well. But for the heart and for the souls, we also need food. They are ethereal beings, their food is divine light.

All of us have energy in us and we benefit from each other’s energy, but divine light is different. Divine light is something that our heart and soul will live on. Our heart and soul will be nurtured with divine light. That divine light will come from the remembrance of God when it is conducted in the heart. 

There is a lot to say about Sufism and a lot to discuss spirituality. But the most important thing in a Sufi’s life is that his/her souls are energised and spiritualised in a way that, even if you are sleeping, your real you are awake. 

Sultan Haq Bahu said, ‘Some people are awake and they are engaged in worship but in the eyes of God, they are sleeping’. 

Although they appear to be awake and are engaged in worship, in the eyes of God they are heedless. 

Why? Because it is not your body that God looks at, it is your heart that God looks at. But your heart is not engaged in God’s remembrance, only your body is. Some peoples’ hearts are engaged in God’s remembrance and they are sleeping – but in the eyes of God, they are awake because their hearts are awake.

This is the threshold of a Sufi, that he or she is able to engage in God’s remembrance in such a way that he or she doesn’t have to make any physical efforts. Even if you make physical efforts, what will happen when you fall asleep? 

Sultan Haq Bahu said, ‘A lover is never heedless of the beloved.’

When we fall asleep,  we are heedless of everything, even ourselves. So, a Sufi is a true lover because when a Sufi’s body sleeps, his or her souls do not sleep. They are still engaged in the remembrance of God. A Sufi’s heart becomes the true recipient of the divine messages.

There are many Sufi orders in this world: Naqshbandi Sufi order, Sahaurwardi Sufi order, Chishti, Qadri etc. They have different names, but the principles and teachings of each and every Sufi order is the same: Activation of the Heart. 

With this message and gift of God, we are here to serve you. We believe you are our brothers and our sisters in love and on the Sufi path. We are here to unify with you in love, peace and to commemorate the Sufi path given to the people in the West. 

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25 July: MFI Returns to the Lama Foundation After 22 Years
12th July 2019|Activities

25 July: MFI Returns to the Lama Foundation After 22 Years

25 July: MFI Returns to the Lama Foundation After 22 Years

We at the Messiah Foundation International are utterly delighted to announce Sufi Younus AlGohar’s upcoming visit to the Lama Foundation retreat centre in Questa, New Mexico, on the 25th of July, 2019. This visit marks the first time in 22 years that the MFI are returning to the iconic Lama Foundation centre.

For Messiah Foundation International, the Lama Foundation has always had a special place in our hearts. His Divine Eminence Gohar Shahi first visited the Lama Foundation in July of 1997. It was here that members of the community – from all walks of life – joined hands in invocation of God’s name while circumambulating HDE Gohar Shahi. It was also near the Lama Foundation site that HDE Gohar Shahi and Lord Jesus Christ held their momentous meeting.

Sufi Younus AlGohar and his team will participate in the Lama Foundation’s activities and lead the group Zikar at the Lama Foundation on the 25th of July. For further information, visit the Lama Foundation Website.

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