| Khankah SAM Sam's Garden |
"I feel like a gardener who
planted a bunch of seeds
and nothing came up; and
again the next year he
planted a bunch more seeds
and nothing came up; and
again the next year more
seeds with the same result;
and so on and on and on.
And then this year, he
planted a bunch of seeds:
not only did they all come
up, but all the seeds from
the previous year came up
and all the seeds from the
year before, and so on. So
I've just been frantically
running around trying to
harvest all the plants until
Allah came to me and said,
"Don't worry. Harvest what
you can and leave the rest to
Me."
by Murshid Sam Lewis
The above quote is from the book "In the Garden"
by Murshid Sam Lewis
copy right, 1975 by the Lama Foundation
Murshid Sam Lewis's biography
by Murshid Wali Ali can be read from this link: http://www.marinsufis.com/murshid.php
| A group picture that was taken in the late 1960's in San Francisco. |
| In Memory of Murshid Samuel Lewis October 18, 1896 ~ January 15, 1971 |
| The History of the Mentorgarden / Khankah Sam |
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In June of 1967 Murshid Samuel Lewis christened his home at 410 Precita Avenue, the Mentorgarden.
At that time Murshid Sam had fourteen direct students and he offered them and others a range of
classes from the vast wealth of his own wide range of spiritual training. There were Sufi classes,
Dharma classes, and Walks and Dance Classes.
Following his teacher, Hazrat Inayat Khan, the Sufi classes began with this invocation;
"Toward The One, The Perfection Of Love, Harmony, And Beauty, The Only Being, United With All The
Illuminated Souls, Who Form The Embodiment Of The Master, The Spirit Of Guidance."
The classes dedicated to the Dharma teachings of Hinduism and Buddhism included the study of
breath, meditation, and sacred writings. They usually included taking refuge in the Buddha, the
Dharma, and the Sangha, and the transmission of the Om Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram mantra of his
Guru Papa Ram Das.
It was at the Mentorgarden that the Dances of Universal Peace, as they are now known and practiced
around the world, were born. These circle dances are centered on the sacred phrases of the world
religions. Moving together, in the atmosphere of these phrases creates joy, and a sense of Unity.
Murshid Sam also developed a body of walking practices with this close group of disciples.
Awareness and conscious direction of the breath, and posture are the foundations of these Walks.
Various attunements are embodied in the practices: elemental qualities; chakras in the body;
astrological archetypes; the Sifat-i-Allah (divine qualities of Allah), and the great spiritual Masters,
Saints, and Prophets. The walks took Murshid Sam climbing Bernal Heights, walking the streets of
the city, as well as practicing in the sacred spaces of the Mentorgarden.
Following in the foot steps of his teacher, Samuel Lewis, Murshid Wali Ali continues to offer classes at
the Mentorgarden, and there are also Dance meetings once or twice a month.
("Breath is life. Breath is movement. Voice is breath. Let breath Breathe")
~Murshid Sam Lewis
At that time Murshid Sam had fourteen direct students and he offered them and others a range of
classes from the vast wealth of his own wide range of spiritual training. There were Sufi classes,
Dharma classes, and Walks and Dance Classes.
Following his teacher, Hazrat Inayat Khan, the Sufi classes began with this invocation;
"Toward The One, The Perfection Of Love, Harmony, And Beauty, The Only Being, United With All The
Illuminated Souls, Who Form The Embodiment Of The Master, The Spirit Of Guidance."
The classes dedicated to the Dharma teachings of Hinduism and Buddhism included the study of
breath, meditation, and sacred writings. They usually included taking refuge in the Buddha, the
Dharma, and the Sangha, and the transmission of the Om Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram mantra of his
Guru Papa Ram Das.
It was at the Mentorgarden that the Dances of Universal Peace, as they are now known and practiced
around the world, were born. These circle dances are centered on the sacred phrases of the world
religions. Moving together, in the atmosphere of these phrases creates joy, and a sense of Unity.
Murshid Sam also developed a body of walking practices with this close group of disciples.
Awareness and conscious direction of the breath, and posture are the foundations of these Walks.
Various attunements are embodied in the practices: elemental qualities; chakras in the body;
astrological archetypes; the Sifat-i-Allah (divine qualities of Allah), and the great spiritual Masters,
Saints, and Prophets. The walks took Murshid Sam climbing Bernal Heights, walking the streets of
the city, as well as practicing in the sacred spaces of the Mentorgarden.
Following in the foot steps of his teacher, Samuel Lewis, Murshid Wali Ali continues to offer classes at
the Mentorgarden, and there are also Dance meetings once or twice a month.
("Breath is life. Breath is movement. Voice is breath. Let breath Breathe")
~Murshid Sam Lewis