When the Sufi line of Bhai Sahib came to North America . . .

. . . they recognized the profound connection of the North American continent to the spiritual traditions of its native people. It is said that on this unique continent, no spiritual work can take root and last unless the work is first accepted on the inner planes by those ancient American traditions.

So for example, when Irina Tweedie came from England in the late 1980’s to prepare the way for her Sufi line, she knew the work would thrive when in her first audience, she recognized a Native American man of power.

Sometimes I ponder ancient American dream traditions . . .

. . . perhaps they are one reason dreams are so nourishing to the inner journey here. And we can recognize that in our present age of spiritual denial, native traditions still hold and sustain for all Americans the primal connection between inner and outer worlds.

Although Native American traditions are as alive today as ever . . .

. . . they are often transmitted orally. However, one outstanding written record was given to us by Black Elk, a medicine keeper of the Oglala Sioux and a great saint of the North American continent. His great vision is published in book form as BLACK ELK SPEAKS: As told through John G. Neihardt; University of Nebraska Press. Lincoln, 1932.

Born in 1863, Black Elk ministered to his people during the holocaust of westward expansion. Later in life, he realized that his twelve-day vision of 1872 was to be written down for posterity. And we are truly fortunate... his chronicle revisits for our time the great journey described in the Book of Revelations, which St. John the Beloved felt similarly inspired to record 1800 years earlier.

Fifth: THE SELF-REALIZATION FELLOWSHIP

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