Spiritual Letter 42 - Expanded Version                       About Spiritual Letter 42
Title: The Life and Teaching of Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen for the Age of Bawa
          Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Him)
Date: January 9, 2003
Written by: Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen (Louie Beutler)
Written to: Muhammad Lateef (Kelly Hayden)


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Go To Table of Contents - Spiritual Letter 42

Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim. In the name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate. Al-salam 'alaykum wa-rahmat Allah wa barakatuhu kulluhu. May all the peace, the beneficence, and the blessing of God be upon us all.  May God help us all.

My love you (anbu), my dearest brothers and sisters - Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen (Louie Beutler).
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Outline of Spiritual Letter:
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Page 1 of 2 (this page)
1.  Introduction - to Spiritual Letter 42
2.  Cover Letter - from Muhammad Lateef (Kelly Hayden) to Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen
          (Louie Beutler)
3.  Initial General Guidelines - of The Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Fellowship for sharing the
          life and teaching of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Him) with
          our brother and sisters in the world
4.  Review of Cover Letter And Guidelines - from Muhammad Lateef (Kelly Hayden) to
          Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen (Louie Beutler)
          4-1.  We Must Be Very Careful - not to separate ourselves into different groups.
                    We are all "The Fellowship"
          4-2.  Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (Ral.) - and The Children of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (Ral.)
          4-3.  Both Need A Place - both Bawa and His Children need a place, not just
                    Bawa
          4-4.  The "The Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Library" - tries to address both of these
                    needs, the need of documenting Bawa's Material, and the need of
                    Documenting the Material of His Children
          4.5.  The Father's Part of "The Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Library"                    
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5.  The Greatest Learning of Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen - is that "what you do" isn't the
          point,but rather, "who you do it with" is what really matters, that is, whether you
          do it with your mind and desire" or you do it "with your Shaikh within you, and
          God within Him", whether you do it using the elemental energies of your mind, or
          the Power of God           
6.  We All Have Been Given Jobs To Do By Bawa - may we all come to respect
          each other's "Bawa given job", and give each other the respect and space
          appropriate to our job
          undertaking, and represent the fruit of this child's labor at the feet of our Shaikh
          for 27 years
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Page 2 of 2 - click HERE to go to Page 2 of 2
8.  Observations About The Publishing Department - we need to move from analog publishing methods to digital publishing methods
9.  Suggestions For Improving The Publishing Department - we need to create and maintain a secure database and internet publishing environment
10.  More On The Children's Part of "The Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Library" - it is the life and teaching of Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen for this age, for this age of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (Ral.), for all of the Children of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with each of Them) for this age, which is everyone living in this age
11. The Life And Teaching of Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen for This Age - is in truth, at a deeper level within us, the birthright, the heritage, and the nourishment of the Grandchildren of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with each of Them) within us, the Children of God for the next age, who will truly take us, the Children of God for this age, to the Shore, will truly take us to the Shore, to the hereafter, to akhirah within us, if we will but let Them, let Them come to maturity within us
12.  Closing Comments And Prayer - please forgive me
 
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Text of Spiritual Letter:
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1. Introduction - to Spiritual Letter 42

Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim. In the name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate. Al-salam 'alaykum wa-rahmat Allah wa barakatuhu kulluhu. May all the peace, the beneficence, and the blessing of God be upon us all.

My love you (anbu), my dearest brother Muhammad Lateef (Kelly Hayden) - Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen (Louie Beutler).

Thank you for your letter outlining the "Initial Fellowship Guidelines For Sharing The Life And Teachings of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (peace be upon Him) with our Brothers and Sisters".

What you have said in your letter and initial guidelines is true, we must all be very careful about how we present the life and teaching of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Him) to our brothers and sisters, and especially how it is done through the new medium of the Internet, which is a whole new technology that has come about since the passing of our Father, Shaikh Muhammad Rahim Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Him).

Let us start our review of what you have said by providing a copy of your cover letter, and your initial guidelines, which we will follow with our reaction to them.

But first, let us start this wonderful process of coming together in the name of our Father Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Him), and of God within Him, by inviting Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Him), and God within Him, into this process that we have started, so the grace, light, and help of God can come to His Children at this time.

So they do no harm to each other, in any way, especially when it is done in the name of God, in the name of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Him), in the name of what they have been told personally to do by Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Him), and in the name of what they personally believe is best for the Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Fellowship, and for all of our brothers and sisters living in the world today.

The "Father's Prayer" of Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen:

"O Bawa, our Father, our Shaikh, our Guru, we need Your love,
please, please destroy us, and reveal You."

"O Bawa, destroy us as separate from You and You as separate from us,
and reveal us as One with You and You as One with Us."

"O Bawa, destroy the life of separation and differences that You have given us,
And reveal the life of Oneness and Unity, of Justice and Truth,
And of Compassion and Unity that You have also given us."

Amen, Amen, Ya Rabil Alameen.
Amen, Amen, Ya Rahman Alameen.
Amen, Amen, Ya Rahim Alameen.
Al-hamdu lillah.  Allahu Akbar.

[Note: Click HERE to review a brief history of the development of the "Father's Prayer" of Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen]
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2.  Cover Letter - from Muhammad Lateef (Kelly Hayden) to Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen (Louie Beutler)

Hi Lou,

Enclosed is a note containing some initial suggestions for the site you constructed. I have only done a preliminary review so the suggestions I am offering are incomplete, but it is a start.

I am sure that as we speak we can clarify the needs of the Fellowship and still address the service provided by your posting Bawa's material.

The style of the site has to conform to the appropriate content. We spoke earlier about the need to exclude commentary on Bawa's words, and I have tried to explain why this is important in the attachment.

Bawa once said, "Don't let your different needs become differences among you". It is in that spirit that I pray you will accept these suggestions. I am not trying to do anything except what Bawa directed us to do with his words.

I look forward to hearing from you in this regard.

Anbu, Kelly
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3.  Initial General Guidelines - of The Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Fellowship for sharing
the life and teaching of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Him) with our
brother and sisters in the world

Hi Louie,

Assalaamu'alaikum,

I am still going through the site, and it is pretty extensive and detailed.

I am going to suggest some general guidelines that I want you to review. These are
serious and important because generally speaking the kind of site you have
constructed is very well done but not appropriate, as it exists.

First and foremost you will need to read and sign the agreement we developed with our
copyright attorney requiring members to get written permission to use Bawa's words,
images, name etc. in any publications or works.

The other general areas of concern are:

The goal and objective of the site is to make Bawa's material available to members, so
we need a content and purpose outline of sorts.

Whenever someone wants to use Bawa's material in any project they send an outline
of the intended project and with that we begin.

In this case the outline is here getting Bawa's material in the hands and hearts of
those who are interested.

All we have to do now is to make sure that, with these wonderful intentions we do not
violate any of the instructions and guidelines Bawa set up for using his material. Your
supplying an outline will save time as you are much more familiar with the contents
than I am and I may miss some important areas.

It will allow us to agree on what can go on the site and what should not and what
cannot go on the site.

We need to list all the material you are requesting permission to use in your site
(published books and pamphlets), and a general schedule of when the material will be
introduced.

Published material can be used, unpublished material cannot. (Transcripts).

Bawa told us not to summarize or excerpt his material with the calendar quotes being
the only exception to this rule.

So the outline of the spiritual discourses format (unpublished discourses) as well as
the unpublished, spiritual discourses themselves are not permitted.

Louie, the reason for not summarizing is that Bawa said his relationship with each
child was so unique and personal he would direct each heart to the appropriate
material at the appropriate time and we did not have the subtle wisdom to enter this
dynamic and when you summarize you draw attention to areas you feel are most
important in Bawa's talks.

It may be so for us, but not for everyone. The reason not to put unpublished material
on the site is because it has not been through the editorial process that was set up
under Bawa's supervision, with the conclusion of that process being a book or
pamphlet.

The name of the site should reflect your name (Louie Beutler), presentation of the
material approved by the Fellowship and should include the information that all
material presented in the site is with the permission of the Bawa Muhaiyaddeen
Fellowship.

Something like " Lou Beutler (Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen) Hosts Books of Wisdom,
Offerings of Books by Muhammad Raheem Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (Ral.)"

The use of Bawa's name on the site should be clarified so we can minimize any
confusion between Sheikh M. R. Bawa Muhaiyaddeen, and Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen
(Lou Beutler).

The directives or replies to your inner questions you receive in your meditations have
to be characterized as such so as not to create any confusion about what Bawa
actually said and what his disciples attribute to him.

I am not trying to discredit or trivialize your or anyone's relationship or inner
communication. However when material is put out to the public even though it may be
intended for "Members eyes only", we have no way of knowing where it will end up so
clear credible representations are absolutely necessary.

This is what I have come up with so far, but as I mentioned I have not had a chance to
review the site in detail.

The suggestions made here Louie are necessary and have as much to do with
practical considerations of the site relative to the Fellowship, as they have to do with
precedents that, if allowed to continue, will create problems for us in the future.

If as I review the site in more detail other areas of concern arise I will speak with you
about them. If there is anything you want to discuss please contact me.

I am sending a copy of this to the Secretaries Office so Carolyn is up to date on the
discussion.

Please get back to me as soon as you review the information contained in this
message.

I know the areas addressed in this letter were not intended by you to do anything but
assist, but the measures I am offering are consistent with my experience with Bawa
and the way he wanted his words to be handled and our responsibilities in carrying
those wishes out.

Anbu, Kelly
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4.  Review of Cover Letter And Guidelines - from Muhammad Lateef (Kelly Hayden) to Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen (Louie Beutler)

My dearest loving brother Muhammad Lateef, lets take a look together at the things you have said in these two document (cover letter and initial guidelines) and try to come to agreement on them.  Al-hamdu lillah.  Allahu Akbar.
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4-1.  We Must Be Very Careful - not to separate ourselves into different groups. We
are all "The Fellowship"

We must be careful not to make a distinction between the needs of the Fellowship and
the service provided by the Children of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased
with Him), for in truth they are always one and the same, which is to live at the feet of
our Father, Shaikh Muhammad Rahim Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased
with Him), and of God within Him, with the qualities and actions of God, as given to us,
both on the "outside" of us and on the "inside" of us, as the gift of God for this age, as
the life and teaching of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Him), and of
God within Him.
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4-2.  Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (Ral.) and The Children of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (Ral.)

First we need to make a clear distinction between commentary on Bawa's words as they are currently published by the Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Fellowship and commentary by a Child of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (Ral.) about his particular understanding of the life and teaching of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (Ral.), about his personal experiences with
Bawa Muhaiyaddeen
(Ral.), and about how what Bawa has said and done has affected his life.
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4-3.  Both Need A Place - both Bawa and His Children need a place, not just Bawa

In this way,  there must be a place for both Bawa and His Children, where the
Children of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen
can freely talk about and document their experience with the life and teaching of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (Ral.), their understanding of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (Ral.), their understanding of what He said, and what it means to them. 

This type of work by the Children is similar to what Bawa instructed His Children to do in 1972, at the back of the book, "The Divine Luminous Wisdom, That Dispels The Darkness, Man-God/God-Man", by His Holiness M. R. Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (Ral.).

In this case, a whole section of this book, Section III, which consisted of 39 pages, was devoted to "Letters of the Guru's Children", from pages 249 to 288, and we were told by some of those who wrote these letters that Bawa said that this type of work was very, very important, that His Children must share their experiences with the Shaikh, especially how being with the Shaikh has changed their lives.
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4-4. The "The Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Library" Tries to Address Both of These Needs - the need of documenting Bawa's Material, and the need of Documenting His Children's Material

This is why the Web Site, "The Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Library", was divided clearly into
two parts
; The Father's Part of the Library, and the "Children's Part of the Library. 
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4.5.  The Father's Part of "The Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Library"

In the original "Father's Part of the Library" their were no outlines or commentaries on any of Bawa's published material, and no "unpublished material".  There was simply an on-line copy of a few chapters of a few books by Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Him).  That is all. 

Currently this includes the following four books.

          1)  A Mystical Journey - chapters 1, 2, 3, and 5 available
          2)  The Pearl of Wisdom or Guru Mani - chapter 1 thru 6 available
          3)  The Shaikh and Disciple - Introduction available
          4)  Asma'ul-Husna - The 99 Beautiful Names of Allah - under construction

As well as pointers to the two on-line books published by the Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Fellowship:

          1)  Islam And World Peace: Explanations of a Sufi
          2)  The Book of God's Love

In addition, recently we have started to add the following "unpublished material", which this child found to be very important, but not yet available, which now seems, based on your guidelines, to be inappropriate, which we accept for the moment, and will
remove
from the Father's Part of the "The Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Library". 

          1)  Home Page - Spiritual Discourses
                a)  Spiritual Discourse 1 - How To Merge With The Guru
                b)  Spiritual Discourse 2 - How To Reach & Merge With God
                c)  Spiritual Discourse 3 - The Final Judgment By God of The Creation of
                              God

          2)  Home Page - Spiritual Songs
                a)  Spiritual Song 1 - The Kalimah Song
                b)  Spiritual Song 2 - The Allah Muhammad Song

And lastly, we have started to outline the Father's material, the material of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (Ral.), and also provide some commentary, which now seems, based on your guidelines, to be also inappropriate, which we accept for the moment, and will
remove
from the Father's Part of the "The Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Library". 

Along with our agreement to remove this material from the Father's Part of the "The Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Library", we would like to offer some observations and suggestions about the Fellowship Publishing Department, later in this letter, in the following two sections, on Page 2 of 2,

          8.  Observations About The Publishing Department
          9.  Suggestions For Improving The Publishing Department

We would like to offer some observation and suggestions that may help us make this "unpublished material" available again to Bawa's Children through the Internet, since this particular material is critical to the proper understanding of the life and teaching of God for this age, which Bawa gave to us on April 26, 1972, and consisted of two beautiful discourses about merging with the Guru and with God, and "The Kalimah Song".

For example, the translation of the "The Kalimah Song" by our good sister Usha Balamore literally changed the life of this child forever, the moment he heard it, and became the hereafter or akhirah within the heart of this child after listening to it 1, 2 or more times a day, as part of visiting and walking around the grave or Mazar of Shaikh Muhammad Rahim Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Him), everyday for 12 years, after the passing of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Him) on December 8th 1986.

Also, these two discourses, "How To Merge With The Guru", and "How To Reach And Merge With God", are significant beyond understanding, coming to us from God  through Bawa, to the Children of God for this age, liberating our souls from 200 million years of enslavement, if we will but accept it, coming to us on the day of April 26, 1972, the day that Bawa teaches us was, "The One Good Day in 100 years".
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5.  The Greatest Learning of Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen - is that "what you do" isn't the point, but rather, "who you do it with" is what really matters, that is, whether you do it "with your mind and desire" or you do it "with your Shaikh within you, and God within Him", whether you do it using the elemental energies of your mind, or the Power of God.  This is what matters in everything that we do.  Everything else is just drama, is just fate, or destiny, or karma, is just the stage upon which we all live.  It is "who is on the stage" that matters, not "what appears on the stage", or "what happens on the stage", and it is always, either darkness or light, either the mind or wisdom,  either falsehood or truth

In this way, my dearest loving brother, we need to stay sensitive to the needs of the
Children of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen
(may God be pleased with each of Us), not just to marketing goals, like completing a certain number of publishing jobs, or reducing our back log, or keeping our management happy, or keeping up our image of competency.

Instead, we must draw upon the power of God within our Shaikh within us to do the "Bawa given job" we have been handed, and let that power of God within us lead, not letting "us" as "separate from" God, as "separate from" each other, and as "separate from" the Creation of God within us, lead us, which is our current state. 

This has been the greatest learning of this child, of your brother Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen, using the Power of God within our Shaikh within us.

In this way, we must always be open to all observations and suggestions that God puts in front of us, as literally coming from God, to deal with the job that we have been given by Bawa.  Only then can the Publishing Department of the Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Fellowship make the life and teaching of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Him) available to our brothers and sisters living in the world, as quickly as possible, as correctly as possible, and as pleasing as possible, meaning that it is presented in a manner that is easily integrated into the current life style and belief system of a group of people. 

For example, for the Islamic community, it is important that what we provide addresses both the Shari'at aspect of Islam as well as the more difficult and challenging concepts of Islam, such as the Triple Flame of God - Ya Allah, Ya Rasul, Ya Muhaiyaddeen, and how the concept of the Triple Flame of God is but a mirror of the True Shaikh-Disciple relationship that we are all trying to form before we die, and other Sufi concepts such as Tawhid, the affirmation of the Unity of Allah, which Bawa teaches us is the principal tenet of Islam.

Also, my dearest loving brother, we must be very careful when we set out to change things that God has arranged, which in truth is everything, like taking this "unpublished material" off the internet, from the Web Sit that has been developed by this child, sitting at the feet of our Shaikh, and God within Him, because in truth we know so little in our life about anything, its significance, and why it is happening, we are literally living in the dark, until the light dawns within us.

Not that what you did was wrong, or right, or what this child did and is currently doing with this letter is wrong or right, the question is "who did we do it with", did we do it with our mind and desire or did we do it with our wisdom, and the truth of God within us, did we do it with our Shaikh within us, and with God within Him.

For if we did it this way, with our Shaikh within us, and with God within Him, then in truth we did not do it, because in that relationship "we" as "separate from" our Shaikh, and from God within Him, no longer exists.  Instead, the Three of Us exist, and exist as One - the Disciple, the Shaikh, and God - and then there is no "my doing" or "my not doing" anything, then is just "doing" and "not doing".

This is why Bawa teaches us,

          "Never have the thought that there is something that you have to do."

And, as Bawa teaches us on page 73, Golden Words Number 225, in the book, "Golden Words of a Sufi Shaikh",

---------------- Beginning of discourse by Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (Ral.) -----------------

The Shaikh says: O son, with wisdom you must understand the treasure of peace in your life.  Listen

Do not ever give room to the thought of hurting anyone.  The idea of killing or hurting any life must be dispelled from within you.

No matter what duty you perform, do not seek the help of others in return.  Do not expect to receive a reward.  Do selfless duty in an unattached way.

In every duty, give up the thought that you are doing it, give Him the responsibility, and then perform the duty.  Even your intentions must be surrendered to God.

In your vision, action, thought, and wisdom, look at God first.  Place Him before you in your life and follow Him.  Act with God's qualities.

These will give peace and tranquility to life.  If you make these points firm and certain in your wisdom, if your realize them and act accordingly, all lives will trust you, and love you, and all lives will pay obeisance to your qualities.

--------------------- End of discourse by Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (Ral.) ---------------------

Looking at our behavior or duty from this perspective, if we did it, it was wrong, no matter what we did, or how it turned out.

In this way, while we are still caught up in our ego, in our doing things, "separate from" God, "separate from" God doing them, during this dark time of our life, we are very, very dangerous, to ourselves and to others, because as Bawa teaches us on page 18,
Chapter 1
, "The Shepherd and the Tree", in the book, "A Mystical Journey",

          "To those with the qualities and state of an animal, darkness is light and light is
          darkness. But for the wise man, pure truth is light."

And in the larger context for this same quote, Bawa teaches us, on the same page, in the same Chapter, and in the same book,

------------- Beginning of discourse by Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (Ral.) --------------

Shall we ask the tree if it is time to go, my children.

"O Katpaha Virudcham, you have given us our food, and now we ask your permission to leave."

Look, the tree has burst into pure light! Can you see how the resplendent brilliance is enveloping us completely?

Oh no, the horse and cow are running back to the mountain! When the tree suddenly became ablaze, they could not see it for what it truly was; they could only see darkness, and so they ran away, afraid.

That is how some beings react when they perceive the power of light, truth and goodness. They flee in terror, because the selfishness within them makes them perceive that pure light as darkness.

Each one will see this tree according to his own state. To those with the qualities and state of an animal, darkness is light and light is darkness. But for the wise man, pure truth is light.

My children, this resplendent light is the completeness. It is God's grace and His ninety-nine duties and actions, His wilayats. This is the Katpaha Virudcham, and its power will give you whatever you ask.

Listen! The light which enveloped us has opened and is speaking to us.

"You have transformed your qualities and passed the ninth test, and you must study for the tenth examination. In this next experience you must learn about death and how to die before death. This is something you must understand."

Look, my children. Once again the light has become a tree.  And now it is time for us to move on.

--------------------- End of discourse by Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (Ral.) ---------------------

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6.  We All Have Been Given Jobs To Do By Bawa - may we all come to respect each other's "Bawa given jobs", and realize and accept that all of these different jobs of the Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Fellowship, always complement each other, and are never, never in conflict, as long as we stay as Bawa's Children, sitting at His Divine feet, seeking His "living presence" to provide the necessary guidance to successfully carrying out our assigned jobs

My dearest loving brother Muhammad Lateef, you have been given a very difficult job by Bawa, becoming the Manager of the Publishing Department of the Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Fellowship, one that requires you to draw upon the power of God to be successful, as this child has also been given a very difficult job by Bawa, being given the name of Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen by Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Him), a name which Bawa personally instructed all of His Children to use when addressing this child, not Louie or Lou as you, and many of the Fellowship Managers and Executives continue to do, in direct violation of what Bawa has publicly told you to do.

This was not my idea, or my request, this was Bawa's doing, for reasons only He knows, but we must all respect His decision to bless this child with the name Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen, just as He blessed you with the job of Publishing Manager, whether we personally like Louie Beutler or not, if we are to stay true to the life and teaching of
Bawa Muhaiyaddeen
(may God be pleased with Him), if we ever hope to become truly a Child of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with each of Us), in this world or in the next.
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7. The Children's Part of "The Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Library" - is a very special undertaking, and represents the fruit of this child's labor, at the divine feet of our Shaikh for 27 years, and as such, it represents the life and teaching of Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen for this age, for the Children of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with each of Them) for this age, which is all of us living in this age

And the name Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen given to this child (Louie Beutler) by Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Him) carries with it the responsibility of
Teaching
about the life and teaching of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen, to all of the Children of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Them) throughout the world, a job that also requires one to draw upon the power of God to be successful. 

And this, and only this, is what in truth the Children's Part of the "The Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Library" is all about, it is about what has and is currently being developed by this child, at the feet of our Shaikh, to teach the Children of God for this age about the Shari'at, Tariqat, Haqiqat, Marifat, and Sufiat of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen
(may God be pleased with Him), and in this way, it is the life and teaching of Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen for this age, for the
Children of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (Ral.) for this age, for all of the children of God living within the world today.

In this way, it is being developed right now, as we speak, as this child, Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen (Louie Beutler), joined as One with Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (Ral.) within him, and with God within Him, writes Spiritual Letter 42, to Muhammad Lateef, to all of the brothers and sisters of the Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Fellowship, and to all of the Children of God in this age, using the life and teaching of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Him), and the understanding and life experiences of this child, and the True Shaikh-Disciple Relationship, as the vehicle for developing the life and teaching of Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen for this age, for this age of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen
(may God be pleased with Him). 

That is how it works, and the result is not the life and teaching of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Him) for this age, it is the life and teaching of Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen for this age of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Him), for without Him none of this would be occurring, none of us would exist, this Internet, and this conversation over the Internet could not happen.

It is like mixing tea leaves [the life and teaching of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (Ral.)], with
hot water
(the True Shaikh-Relationship), then adding sugar (the understanding of this child), and then cream (the life experiences of this child), producing "Sugar Milk Tea", which has a very different taste then the hot tea alone.  In this way, producing the life and teaching of Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen from the life and teaching of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Him), through the dynamic of the True Shaikh-Disciple Relationship, and the life experiences and understanding of a True
Child of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen
(may God be pleased with each of Us).

This "Sugar Milk Tea", this life and teaching of Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen for this age, for the Children of God in this age, is the work that Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Him) has personally given to this child, when He gave this child the name Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen, and this is the "Bawa given job" of this child.  Please respect it, and give it a little space to exist and continue to grow, within the presence of the
Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Fellowship.

Please don't let anyone stamp it out simply because it is different.  In a beautiful way, it is the next generation of the Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Fellowship that we have come to prepare a foundation for, upon which They, the true Children of God within us, the Light form within our dark form, the true Grandchildren of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Them), can build the hereafter, or akhirah, for all of us, can build it "here" and "now".

Please try to keep these wisdom point in mind, my dearest loving brother Muhammad Lateef, when reviewing the current material in the Children's Part of "The Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Library", as well as this letter, Spiritual Letter 43 to Muhammad Lateef, which has how become part of the life and teaching of Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen, a part of the Children's Part of "The Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Library".

Please keep in mind that this Children's Part of "The Bawa Muhaiyaddeen" Library represents the fruit of this child's labor, of this child living at the feet of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Him), in a very special kind of relationship for 27 years, and contains many, many wonderful subtleties hidden within the life and teaching of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Him)

Subtleties hidden within the life and teaching of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Him) that can be of great value to the present Children of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with each of Us), and if not to them, then to the future Children of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with each of Them), to the Grandchildren of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Them). Please keep this in mind.  It is not a simple matter.

May we both learn to do this, my dearest loving brother, to draw upon the power of God to be successful in our jobs, in the work that Bawa has personally given each of us to do, and may we both learn to equally respect the jobs that each of us have been given by Bawa, and give each other the respect and space that goes with their "Bawa given job".

And may we always remember that although we may have been given very different jobs, both equally important, that they both came to each of us from Bawa, and He knows best, not us, since we are but His Children and we still have a lot to learn, both about ourselves and about our "Bawa given job".

And finally, may we come to know, through the clarity of Muhammad (Sal.) within us, and through God's grace, wisdom, and help, how these two jobs of Muhammad Lateef and Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen always complement each other, and are never, never in conflict, as long as we stay as Bawa's Children, sitting at His Divine feet, looking to Him for our guidance and direction, on how best to proceed, not looking to ourselves, to our own counsel, or to the counsel of our family and friends, instead relying on Him within us, and only on Him within us, and on God within Him, which is the "Living Presence of God" within us.

In this way, relying on the "Living Presence of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen" within us, and of God within Him, and not just relying on something that Bawa may have told us before He died.  In this way, everything in our life must move forward, as we progress on the path of God, even our understanding of what Bawa personally told us before He died.

Only then can the Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Fellowship truly move forward as the One Life of God within each one of us, and bring peace and comfort to the whole world, and not just be another crazy religious group, fighting for its own turf, for position or status among the different members of the group, for its status in relationship to other such groups, or for its place in history.

Amen, Amen, Ya Rabil Alameen.  Amen, Amen, Ya Rahman Alameen.  Amen, Amen, Ya Rahim Alameen.  Al-hamdu lillah.  Allahu Akbar.

This completes Page 1 of 2 of Spiritual Letter 42.  Click HERE or below to go to Page 2 of 2.

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Spiritual Letter 42 - Expanded Version                       About Spiritual Letter 42
Title: The Life and Teaching of Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen for the Age of Bawa
          Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Him)
Date: January 9, 2003
Written by: Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen (Louie Beutler)
Written to: Muhammad Lateef (Kelly Hayden)


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Page 1 of 2
Go To Table of Contents - Spiritual Letter 42

Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim. In the name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate. Al-salam 'alaykum wa-rahmat Allah wa barakatuhu kulluhu. May all the peace, the beneficence, and the blessing of God be upon us all.  May God help us all.

My love you (anbu), my dearest brothers and sisters - Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen (Louie Beutler).
                                                                                                                        - back to top of page
Outline of Spiritual Letter:
                                                                                                                        - go to topic 5 to 7
Page 1 of 2 (this page)
1.  Introduction - to Spiritual Letter 42
2.  Cover Letter - from Muhammad Lateef (Kelly Hayden) to Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen
          (Louie Beutler)
3.  Initial General Guidelines - of The Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Fellowship for sharing the
          life and teaching of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Him) with
          our brother and sisters in the world
4.  Review of Cover Letter And Guidelines - from Muhammad Lateef (Kelly Hayden) to
          Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen (Louie Beutler)
          4-1.  We Must Be Very Careful - not to separate ourselves into different groups.
                    We are all "The Fellowship"
          4-2.  Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (Ral.) - and The Children of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (Ral.)
          4-3.  Both Need A Place - both Bawa and His Children need a place, not just
                    Bawa
          4-4.  The "The Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Library" - tries to address both of these
                    needs, the need of documenting Bawa's Material, and the need of
                    Documenting the Material of His Children
          4.5.  The Father's Part of "The Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Library"                    
                                                                                                                        - go to top of outline
5.  The Greatest Learning of Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen - is that "what you do" isn't the
          point,but rather, "who you do it with" is what really matters, that is, whether you
          do it with your mind and desire" or you do it "with your Shaikh within you, and
          God within Him", whether you do it using the elemental energies of your mind, or
          the Power of God           
6.  We All Have Been Given Jobs To Do By Bawa - may we all come to respect
          each other's "Bawa given job", and give each other the respect and space
          appropriate to our job
          undertaking, and represent the fruit of this child's labor at the feet of our Shaikh
          for 27 years
                                                                                                              - look at all of Page 2 outline
                                                                                                              - go to top of outline
Page 2 of 2 - click HERE to go to Page 2 of 2
8.  Observations About The Publishing Department - we need to move from analog publishing methods to digital publishing methods
9.  Suggestions For Improving The Publishing Department - we need to create and maintain a secure database and internet publishing environment
10.  More On The Children's Part of "The Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Library" - it is the life and teaching of Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen for this age, for this age of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (Ral.), for all of the Children of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with each of Them) for this age, which is everyone living in this age
11. The Life And Teaching of Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen for This Age - is in truth, at a deeper level within us, the birthright, the heritage, and the nourishment of the Grandchildren of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with each of Them) within us, the Children of God for the next age, who will truly take us, the Children of God for this age, to the Shore, will truly take us to the Shore, to the hereafter, to akhirah within us, if we will but let Them, let Them come to maturity within us
12.  Closing Comments And Prayer - please forgive me
 
                                                                                                                        - back to top of page
Text of Spiritual Letter:
                                                                                                                                  - back to outline
1. Introduction - to Spiritual Letter 42

Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim. In the name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate. Al-salam 'alaykum wa-rahmat Allah wa barakatuhu kulluhu. May all the peace, the beneficence, and the blessing of God be upon us all.

My love you (anbu), my dearest brother Muhammad Lateef (Kelly Hayden) - Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen (Louie Beutler).

Thank you for your letter outlining the "Initial Fellowship Guidelines For Sharing The Life And Teachings of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (peace be upon Him) with our Brothers and Sisters".

What you have said in your letter and initial guidelines is true, we must all be very careful about how we present the life and teaching of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Him) to our brothers and sisters, and especially how it is done through the new medium of the Internet, which is a whole new technology that has come about since the passing of our Father, Shaikh Muhammad Rahim Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Him).

Let us start our review of what you have said by providing a copy of your cover letter, and your initial guidelines, which we will follow with our reaction to them.

But first, let us start this wonderful process of coming together in the name of our Father Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Him), and of God within Him, by inviting Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Him), and God within Him, into this process that we have started, so the grace, light, and help of God can come to His Children at this time.

So they do no harm to each other, in any way, especially when it is done in the name of God, in the name of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Him), in the name of what they have been told personally to do by Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Him), and in the name of what they personally believe is best for the Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Fellowship, and for all of our brothers and sisters living in the world today.

The "Father's Prayer" of Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen:

"O Bawa, our Father, our Shaikh, our Guru, we need Your love,
please, please destroy us, and reveal You."

"O Bawa, destroy us as separate from You and You as separate from us,
and reveal us as One with You and You as One with Us."

"O Bawa, destroy the life of separation and differences that You have given us,
And reveal the life of Oneness and Unity, of Justice and Truth,
And of Compassion and Unity that You have also given us."

Amen, Amen, Ya Rabil Alameen.
Amen, Amen, Ya Rahman Alameen.
Amen, Amen, Ya Rahim Alameen.
Al-hamdu lillah.  Allahu Akbar.

[Note: Click HERE to review a brief history of the development of the "Father's Prayer" of Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen]
                                                                                                                                  - back to outline
2.  Cover Letter - from Muhammad Lateef (Kelly Hayden) to Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen (Louie Beutler)

Hi Lou,

Enclosed is a note containing some initial suggestions for the site you constructed. I have only done a preliminary review so the suggestions I am offering are incomplete, but it is a start.

I am sure that as we speak we can clarify the needs of the Fellowship and still address the service provided by your posting Bawa's material.

The style of the site has to conform to the appropriate content. We spoke earlier about the need to exclude commentary on Bawa's words, and I have tried to explain why this is important in the attachment.

Bawa once said, "Don't let your different needs become differences among you". It is in that spirit that I pray you will accept these suggestions. I am not trying to do anything except what Bawa directed us to do with his words.

I look forward to hearing from you in this regard.

Anbu, Kelly
                                                                                                                                  - back to outline
3.  Initial General Guidelines - of The Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Fellowship for sharing
the life and teaching of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Him) with our
brother and sisters in the world

Hi Louie,

Assalaamu'alaikum,

I am still going through the site, and it is pretty extensive and detailed.

I am going to suggest some general guidelines that I want you to review. These are
serious and important because generally speaking the kind of site you have
constructed is very well done but not appropriate, as it exists.

First and foremost you will need to read and sign the agreement we developed with our
copyright attorney requiring members to get written permission to use Bawa's words,
images, name etc. in any publications or works.

The other general areas of concern are:

The goal and objective of the site is to make Bawa's material available to members, so
we need a content and purpose outline of sorts.

Whenever someone wants to use Bawa's material in any project they send an outline
of the intended project and with that we begin.

In this case the outline is here getting Bawa's material in the hands and hearts of
those who are interested.

All we have to do now is to make sure that, with these wonderful intentions we do not
violate any of the instructions and guidelines Bawa set up for using his material. Your
supplying an outline will save time as you are much more familiar with the contents
than I am and I may miss some important areas.

It will allow us to agree on what can go on the site and what should not and what
cannot go on the site.

We need to list all the material you are requesting permission to use in your site
(published books and pamphlets), and a general schedule of when the material will be
introduced.

Published material can be used, unpublished material cannot. (Transcripts).

Bawa told us not to summarize or excerpt his material with the calendar quotes being
the only exception to this rule.

So the outline of the spiritual discourses format (unpublished discourses) as well as
the unpublished, spiritual discourses themselves are not permitted.

Louie, the reason for not summarizing is that Bawa said his relationship with each
child was so unique and personal he would direct each heart to the appropriate
material at the appropriate time and we did not have the subtle wisdom to enter this
dynamic and when you summarize you draw attention to areas you feel are most
important in Bawa's talks.

It may be so for us, but not for everyone. The reason not to put unpublished material
on the site is because it has not been through the editorial process that was set up
under Bawa's supervision, with the conclusion of that process being a book or
pamphlet.

The name of the site should reflect your name (Louie Beutler), presentation of the
material approved by the Fellowship and should include the information that all
material presented in the site is with the permission of the Bawa Muhaiyaddeen
Fellowship.

Something like " Lou Beutler (Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen) Hosts Books of Wisdom,
Offerings of Books by Muhammad Raheem Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (Ral.)"

The use of Bawa's name on the site should be clarified so we can minimize any
confusion between Sheikh M. R. Bawa Muhaiyaddeen, and Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen
(Lou Beutler).

The directives or replies to your inner questions you receive in your meditations have
to be characterized as such so as not to create any confusion about what Bawa
actually said and what his disciples attribute to him.

I am not trying to discredit or trivialize your or anyone's relationship or inner
communication. However when material is put out to the public even though it may be
intended for "Members eyes only", we have no way of knowing where it will end up so
clear credible representations are absolutely necessary.

This is what I have come up with so far, but as I mentioned I have not had a chance to
review the site in detail.

The suggestions made here Louie are necessary and have as much to do with
practical considerations of the site relative to the Fellowship, as they have to do with
precedents that, if allowed to continue, will create problems for us in the future.

If as I review the site in more detail other areas of concern arise I will speak with you
about them. If there is anything you want to discuss please contact me.

I am sending a copy of this to the Secretaries Office so Carolyn is up to date on the
discussion.

Please get back to me as soon as you review the information contained in this
message.

I know the areas addressed in this letter were not intended by you to do anything but
assist, but the measures I am offering are consistent with my experience with Bawa
and the way he wanted his words to be handled and our responsibilities in carrying
those wishes out.

Anbu, Kelly
                                                                                                                                  - back to outline
4.  Review of Cover Letter And Guidelines - from Muhammad Lateef (Kelly Hayden) to Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen (Louie Beutler)

My dearest loving brother Muhammad Lateef, lets take a look together at the things you have said in these two document (cover letter and initial guidelines) and try to come to agreement on them.  Al-hamdu lillah.  Allahu Akbar.
                                                                                                                                  - back to outline
4-1.  We Must Be Very Careful - not to separate ourselves into different groups. We
are all "The Fellowship"

We must be careful not to make a distinction between the needs of the Fellowship and
the service provided by the Children of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased
with Him), for in truth they are always one and the same, which is to live at the feet of
our Father, Shaikh Muhammad Rahim Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased
with Him), and of God within Him, with the qualities and actions of God, as given to us,
both on the "outside" of us and on the "inside" of us, as the gift of God for this age, as
the life and teaching of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Him), and of
God within Him.
                                                                                                                                  - back to outline
4-2.  Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (Ral.) and The Children of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (Ral.)

First we need to make a clear distinction between commentary on Bawa's words as they are currently published by the Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Fellowship and commentary by a Child of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (Ral.) about his particular understanding of the life and teaching of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (Ral.), about his personal experiences with
Bawa Muhaiyaddeen
(Ral.), and about how what Bawa has said and done has affected his life.
                                                                                                                                  - back to outline
4-3.  Both Need A Place - both Bawa and His Children need a place, not just Bawa

In this way,  there must be a place for both Bawa and His Children, where the
Children of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen
can freely talk about and document their experience with the life and teaching of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (Ral.), their understanding of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (Ral.), their understanding of what He said, and what it means to them. 

This type of work by the Children is similar to what Bawa instructed His Children to do in 1972, at the back of the book, "The Divine Luminous Wisdom, That Dispels The Darkness, Man-God/God-Man", by His Holiness M. R. Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (Ral.).

In this case, a whole section of this book, Section III, which consisted of 39 pages, was devoted to "Letters of the Guru's Children", from pages 249 to 288, and we were told by some of those who wrote these letters that Bawa said that this type of work was very, very important, that His Children must share their experiences with the Shaikh, especially how being with the Shaikh has changed their lives.
                                                                                                                                  - back to outline
4-4. The "The Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Library" Tries to Address Both of These Needs - the need of documenting Bawa's Material, and the need of Documenting His Children's Material

This is why the Web Site, "The Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Library", was divided clearly into
two parts
; The Father's Part of the Library, and the "Children's Part of the Library. 
                                                                                                                                  - back to outline
4.5.  The Father's Part of "The Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Library"

In the original "Father's Part of the Library" their were no outlines or commentaries on any of Bawa's published material, and no "unpublished material".  There was simply an on-line copy of a few chapters of a few books by Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Him).  That is all. 

Currently this includes the following four books.

          1)  A Mystical Journey - chapters 1, 2, 3, and 5 available
          2)  The Pearl of Wisdom or Guru Mani - chapter 1 thru 6 available
          3)  The Shaikh and Disciple - Introduction available
          4)  Asma'ul-Husna - The 99 Beautiful Names of Allah - under construction

As well as pointers to the two on-line books published by the Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Fellowship:

          1)  Islam And World Peace: Explanations of a Sufi
          2)  The Book of God's Love

In addition, recently we have started to add the following "unpublished material", which this child found to be very important, but not yet available, which now seems, based on your guidelines, to be inappropriate, which we accept for the moment, and will
remove
from the Father's Part of the "The Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Library". 

          1)  Home Page - Spiritual Discourses
                a)  Spiritual Discourse 1 - How To Merge With The Guru
                b)  Spiritual Discourse 2 - How To Reach & Merge With God
                c)  Spiritual Discourse 3 - The Final Judgment By God of The Creation of
                              God

          2)  Home Page - Spiritual Songs
                a)  Spiritual Song 1 - The Kalimah Song
                b)  Spiritual Song 2 - The Allah Muhammad Song

And lastly, we have started to outline the Father's material, the material of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (Ral.), and also provide some commentary, which now seems, based on your guidelines, to be also inappropriate, which we accept for the moment, and will
remove
from the Father's Part of the "The Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Library". 

Along with our agreement to remove this material from the Father's Part of the "The Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Library", we would like to offer some observations and suggestions about the Fellowship Publishing Department, later in this letter, in the following two sections, on Page 2 of 2,

          8.  Observations About The Publishing Department
          9.  Suggestions For Improving The Publishing Department

We would like to offer some observation and suggestions that may help us make this "unpublished material" available again to Bawa's Children through the Internet, since this particular material is critical to the proper understanding of the life and teaching of God for this age, which Bawa gave to us on April 26, 1972, and consisted of two beautiful discourses about merging with the Guru and with God, and "The Kalimah Song".

For example, the translation of the "The Kalimah Song" by our good sister Usha Balamore literally changed the life of this child forever, the moment he heard it, and became the hereafter or akhirah within the heart of this child after listening to it 1, 2 or more times a day, as part of visiting and walking around the grave or Mazar of Shaikh Muhammad Rahim Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Him), everyday for 12 years, after the passing of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Him) on December 8th 1986.

Also, these two discourses, "How To Merge With The Guru", and "How To Reach And Merge With God", are significant beyond understanding, coming to us from God  through Bawa, to the Children of God for this age, liberating our souls from 200 million years of enslavement, if we will but accept it, coming to us on the day of April 26, 1972, the day that Bawa teaches us was, "The One Good Day in 100 years".
                                                                                                                                  - back to outline
5.  The Greatest Learning of Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen - is that "what you do" isn't the point, but rather, "who you do it with" is what really matters, that is, whether you do it "with your mind and desire" or you do it "with your Shaikh within you, and God within Him", whether you do it using the elemental energies of your mind, or the Power of God.  This is what matters in everything that we do.  Everything else is just drama, is just fate, or destiny, or karma, is just the stage upon which we all live.  It is "who is on the stage" that matters, not "what appears on the stage", or "what happens on the stage", and it is always, either darkness or light, either the mind or wisdom,  either falsehood or truth

In this way, my dearest loving brother, we need to stay sensitive to the needs of the
Children of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen
(may God be pleased with each of Us), not just to marketing goals, like completing a certain number of publishing jobs, or reducing our back log, or keeping our management happy, or keeping up our image of competency.

Instead, we must draw upon the power of God within our Shaikh within us to do the "Bawa given job" we have been handed, and let that power of God within us lead, not letting "us" as "separate from" God, as "separate from" each other, and as "separate from" the Creation of God within us, lead us, which is our current state. 

This has been the greatest learning of this child, of your brother Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen, using the Power of God within our Shaikh within us.

In this way, we must always be open to all observations and suggestions that God puts in front of us, as literally coming from God, to deal with the job that we have been given by Bawa.  Only then can the Publishing Department of the Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Fellowship make the life and teaching of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Him) available to our brothers and sisters living in the world, as quickly as possible, as correctly as possible, and as pleasing as possible, meaning that it is presented in a manner that is easily integrated into the current life style and belief system of a group of people. 

For example, for the Islamic community, it is important that what we provide addresses both the Shari'at aspect of Islam as well as the more difficult and challenging concepts of Islam, such as the Triple Flame of God - Ya Allah, Ya Rasul, Ya Muhaiyaddeen, and how the concept of the Triple Flame of God is but a mirror of the True Shaikh-Disciple relationship that we are all trying to form before we die, and other Sufi concepts such as Tawhid, the affirmation of the Unity of Allah, which Bawa teaches us is the principal tenet of Islam.

Also, my dearest loving brother, we must be very careful when we set out to change things that God has arranged, which in truth is everything, like taking this "unpublished material" off the internet, from the Web Sit that has been developed by this child, sitting at the feet of our Shaikh, and God within Him, because in truth we know so little in our life about anything, its significance, and why it is happening, we are literally living in the dark, until the light dawns within us.

Not that what you did was wrong, or right, or what this child did and is currently doing with this letter is wrong or right, the question is "who did we do it with", did we do it with our mind and desire or did we do it with our wisdom, and the truth of God within us, did we do it with our Shaikh within us, and with God within Him.

For if we did it this way, with our Shaikh within us, and with God within Him, then in truth we did not do it, because in that relationship "we" as "separate from" our Shaikh, and from God within Him, no longer exists.  Instead, the Three of Us exist, and exist as One - the Disciple, the Shaikh, and God - and then there is no "my doing" or "my not doing" anything, then is just "doing" and "not doing".

This is why Bawa teaches us,

          "Never have the thought that there is something that you have to do."

And, as Bawa teaches us on page 73, Golden Words Number 225, in the book, "Golden Words of a Sufi Shaikh",

---------------- Beginning of discourse by Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (Ral.) -----------------

The Shaikh says: O son, with wisdom you must understand the treasure of peace in your life.  Listen

Do not ever give room to the thought of hurting anyone.  The idea of killing or hurting any life must be dispelled from within you.

No matter what duty you perform, do not seek the help of others in return.  Do not expect to receive a reward.  Do selfless duty in an unattached way.

In every duty, give up the thought that you are doing it, give Him the responsibility, and then perform the duty.  Even your intentions must be surrendered to God.

In your vision, action, thought, and wisdom, look at God first.  Place Him before you in your life and follow Him.  Act with God's qualities.

These will give peace and tranquility to life.  If you make these points firm and certain in your wisdom, if your realize them and act accordingly, all lives will trust you, and love you, and all lives will pay obeisance to your qualities.

--------------------- End of discourse by Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (Ral.) ---------------------

Looking at our behavior or duty from this perspective, if we did it, it was wrong, no matter what we did, or how it turned out.

In this way, while we are still caught up in our ego, in our doing things, "separate from" God, "separate from" God doing them, during this dark time of our life, we are very, very dangerous, to ourselves and to others, because as Bawa teaches us on page 18,
Chapter 1
, "The Shepherd and the Tree", in the book, "A Mystical Journey",

          "To those with the qualities and state of an animal, darkness is light and light is
          darkness. But for the wise man, pure truth is light."

And in the larger context for this same quote, Bawa teaches us, on the same page, in the same Chapter, and in the same book,

------------- Beginning of discourse by Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (Ral.) --------------

Shall we ask the tree if it is time to go, my children.

"O Katpaha Virudcham, you have given us our food, and now we ask your permission to leave."

Look, the tree has burst into pure light! Can you see how the resplendent brilliance is enveloping us completely?

Oh no, the horse and cow are running back to the mountain! When the tree suddenly became ablaze, they could not see it for what it truly was; they could only see darkness, and so they ran away, afraid.

That is how some beings react when they perceive the power of light, truth and goodness. They flee in terror, because the selfishness within them makes them perceive that pure light as darkness.

Each one will see this tree according to his own state. To those with the qualities and state of an animal, darkness is light and light is darkness. But for the wise man, pure truth is light.

My children, this resplendent light is the completeness. It is God's grace and His ninety-nine duties and actions, His wilayats. This is the Katpaha Virudcham, and its power will give you whatever you ask.

Listen! The light which enveloped us has opened and is speaking to us.

"You have transformed your qualities and passed the ninth test, and you must study for the tenth examination. In this next experience you must learn about death and how to die before death. This is something you must understand."

Look, my children. Once again the light has become a tree.  And now it is time for us to move on.

--------------------- End of discourse by Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (Ral.) ---------------------

                                                                                                                                  - back to outline
6.  We All Have Been Given Jobs To Do By Bawa - may we all come to respect each other's "Bawa given jobs", and realize and accept that all of these different jobs of the Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Fellowship, always complement each other, and are never, never in conflict, as long as we stay as Bawa's Children, sitting at His Divine feet, seeking His "living presence" to provide the necessary guidance to successfully carrying out our assigned jobs

My dearest loving brother Muhammad Lateef, you have been given a very difficult job by Bawa, becoming the Manager of the Publishing Department of the Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Fellowship, one that requires you to draw upon the power of God to be successful, as this child has also been given a very difficult job by Bawa, being given the name of Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen by Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Him), a name which Bawa personally instructed all of His Children to use when addressing this child, not Louie or Lou as you, and many of the Fellowship Managers and Executives continue to do, in direct violation of what Bawa has publicly told you to do.

This was not my idea, or my request, this was Bawa's doing, for reasons only He knows, but we must all respect His decision to bless this child with the name Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen, just as He blessed you with the job of Publishing Manager, whether we personally like Louie Beutler or not, if we are to stay true to the life and teaching of
Bawa Muhaiyaddeen
(may God be pleased with Him), if we ever hope to become truly a Child of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with each of Us), in this world or in the next.
                                                                                                                                  - back to outline
7. The Children's Part of "The Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Library" - is a very special undertaking, and represents the fruit of this child's labor, at the divine feet of our Shaikh for 27 years, and as such, it represents the life and teaching of Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen for this age, for the Children of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with each of Them) for this age, which is all of us living in this age

And the name Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen given to this child (Louie Beutler) by Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Him) carries with it the responsibility of
Teaching
about the life and teaching of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen, to all of the Children of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Them) throughout the world, a job that also requires one to draw upon the power of God to be successful. 

And this, and only this, is what in truth the Children's Part of the "The Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Library" is all about, it is about what has and is currently being developed by this child, at the feet of our Shaikh, to teach the Children of God for this age about the Shari'at, Tariqat, Haqiqat, Marifat, and Sufiat of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen
(may God be pleased with Him), and in this way, it is the life and teaching of Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen for this age, for the
Children of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (Ral.) for this age, for all of the children of God living within the world today.

In this way, it is being developed right now, as we speak, as this child, Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen (Louie Beutler), joined as One with Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (Ral.) within him, and with God within Him, writes Spiritual Letter 42, to Muhammad Lateef, to all of the brothers and sisters of the Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Fellowship, and to all of the Children of God in this age, using the life and teaching of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Him), and the understanding and life experiences of this child, and the True Shaikh-Disciple Relationship, as the vehicle for developing the life and teaching of Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen for this age, for this age of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen
(may God be pleased with Him). 

That is how it works, and the result is not the life and teaching of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Him) for this age, it is the life and teaching of Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen for this age of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Him), for without Him none of this would be occurring, none of us would exist, this Internet, and this conversation over the Internet could not happen.

It is like mixing tea leaves [the life and teaching of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (Ral.)], with
hot water
(the True Shaikh-Relationship), then adding sugar (the understanding of this child), and then cream (the life experiences of this child), producing "Sugar Milk Tea", which has a very different taste then the hot tea alone.  In this way, producing the life and teaching of Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen from the life and teaching of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Him), through the dynamic of the True Shaikh-Disciple Relationship, and the life experiences and understanding of a True
Child of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen
(may God be pleased with each of Us).

This "Sugar Milk Tea", this life and teaching of Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen for this age, for the Children of God in this age, is the work that Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Him) has personally given to this child, when He gave this child the name Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen, and this is the "Bawa given job" of this child.  Please respect it, and give it a little space to exist and continue to grow, within the presence of the
Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Fellowship.

Please don't let anyone stamp it out simply because it is different.  In a beautiful way, it is the next generation of the Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Fellowship that we have come to prepare a foundation for, upon which They, the true Children of God within us, the Light form within our dark form, the true Grandchildren of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Them), can build the hereafter, or akhirah, for all of us, can build it "here" and "now".

Please try to keep these wisdom point in mind, my dearest loving brother Muhammad Lateef, when reviewing the current material in the Children's Part of "The Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Library", as well as this letter, Spiritual Letter 43 to Muhammad Lateef, which has how become part of the life and teaching of Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen, a part of the Children's Part of "The Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Library".

Please keep in mind that this Children's Part of "The Bawa Muhaiyaddeen" Library represents the fruit of this child's labor, of this child living at the feet of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Him), in a very special kind of relationship for 27 years, and contains many, many wonderful subtleties hidden within the life and teaching of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Him)

Subtleties hidden within the life and teaching of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Him) that can be of great value to the present Children of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with each of Us), and if not to them, then to the future Children of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with each of Them), to the Grandchildren of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (may God be pleased with Them). Please keep this in mind.  It is not a simple matter.

May we both learn to do this, my dearest loving brother, to draw upon the power of God to be successful in our jobs, in the work that Bawa has personally given each of us to do, and may we both learn to equally respect the jobs that each of us have been given by Bawa, and give each other the respect and space that goes with their "Bawa given job".

And may we always remember that although we may have been given very different jobs, both equally important, that they both came to each of us from Bawa, and He knows best, not us, since we are but His Children and we still have a lot to learn, both about ourselves and about our "Bawa given job".

And finally, may we come to know, through the clarity of Muhammad (Sal.) within us, and through God's grace, wisdom, and help, how these two jobs of Muhammad Lateef and Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen always complement each other, and are never, never in conflict, as long as we stay as Bawa's Children, sitting at His Divine feet, looking to Him for our guidance and direction, on how best to proceed, not looking to ourselves, to our own counsel, or to the counsel of our family and friends, instead relying on Him within us, and only on Him within us, and on God within Him, which is the "Living Presence of God" within us.

In this way, relying on the "Living Presence of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen" within us, and of God within Him, and not just relying on something that Bawa may have told us before He died.  In this way, everything in our life must move forward, as we progress on the path of God, even our understanding of what Bawa personally told us before He died.

Only then can the Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Fellowship truly move forward as the One Life of God within each one of us, and bring peace and comfort to the whole world, and not just be another crazy religious group, fighting for its own turf, for position or status among the different members of the group, for its status in relationship to other such groups, or for its place in history.

Amen, Amen, Ya Rabil Alameen.  Amen, Amen, Ya Rahman Alameen.  Amen, Amen, Ya Rahim Alameen.  Al-hamdu lillah.  Allahu Akbar.

This completes Page 1 of 2 of Spiritual Letter 42.  Click HERE or below to go to Page 2 of 2.

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This page was last updated on: January 10, 2003