The Weekend Retreat 20 - 22 June 2008

Before the weekend retreat, Pir Zia gave a public talk to a capacity crowd of about 200 people at St Barnabas Church in Auckland. The subject of the talk was "Walking the path of the Dervishes". Many who heard him were moved to come to the Sharda Centre for the weekend.

Part of the Sharda Hall filled with participants waiting to hear Pir Zia.

It was a deep retreat with Pir Zia teaching practices at a very intense level. The participants were transported to a very meditative and introspective plane over the next few days. On Friday night, there was dancing. On Saturday afternoon there was a special blessing given to leaders in a private audience. On Saturday night there was a special gathering to link in with all the mureeds of Pir O Murshid Hazrat Inayat Khan on World Invocation and World Prayer Day. On Sunday, there was Universal Worship and Pir Zia gave the address.

Initiations were taken and Ordinations performed with many participating. After that Pir Zia addressed the mureeds and answered questions.
A special award, the Golden Sufi Award, was presented to Hakim for his unselfish labour and time spent in his organising work.
At the end of the session, the Trustees of Sharda presented Pir Zia with a stone they searched for in the Sharda stream.

It was a jet black basaltic rock found where the stream had cut down through the thick local soil to bedrock.

Pir Zia asked that it be passed among those present so that their love and energies be carried to the Universel at the Abode where the stone will reside when the Universel is rebuilt.

Pir Zia then led the prayer for the Universel.

The Path of Spiritual Liberty Seminar 20-22 June

Starts Fri 2pm to Sun 3pm. Sharda Center, Tuakau.

Registration essential.
Fee $250.00 (deposit $100)

This is a rare and remarkable opportunity. Come and listen to the spiritual head of the Sufi Order International (www.sufiorder.org), a holistic interfaith school of spiritual transformation. Sufism isn’t a doctrine or religion and doesn’t require adherence to dogma or ritual. It welcomes members of all races, nations, and beliefs. It could be thought of as seeking God in the heart of humankind, a religion of the heart, or of love, harmony, and beauty.

Through his teaching, Pir Zia awakens a sense of the sacredness of life. His deeply mystical presence is uplifting and inspiring. The Sufi teachings of Spiritual Liberty offer practices and teachings that cultivate a practical compassion which can changes lives.

For registration and information contact;
Jamila Cranston-Buckley: jamilia@clear.net.nz (09-8180478 or 021930881)
Hakim Chris Bailey: bailznz@hotmail.com (021413177)

Pre-booking is necessary for you to arrange accommodation and meals.

Sharda Events for May and June 2008

Sat 10 May - Sun 11 May. Shamanic Workshop with Jan Natusch

Fri 16 May - Sun 18 May.Yoga Meditation Retreat. contact Mara 09-354-3481 or info@premashanti.com

Tuesday 20 May at 7 pm. Full Moon Meditation for Peace.

Sat 24 - Sun 25 May Sharda Working Bee celebrating Halima's Birthday. Free stayover for volunteers. Bring food to share. Bring work clothes, gloves, tools, lots of energy and love. Dances of Universal Peace on Saturday night

Fri 30 May to Sun 1 June. Self Healing Weekend. $350 including Accommodation and meals.
Contact Genevieve 09-4343542 or view http://www.celticshaman.org/ for info
This weekend will be a healing journey of transformation on the physical, mental and emotional levels. One of the focuses will be on unifying the internal masculine and feminine and anchoring the Spirit Self into the physical body.

1 June (Sunday) Universal Worship at Cottage 11 am. Shared Lunch in A frame at 12.30 pm. Bring a plate.

7 -8 June The Way of the Shaman $330 (not inc accommodation or meals)

The Presenters: Kim and Shaun Leyland are shamanic practitioners, living and working in Alice Springs. They have been studying with the Foundation of Shamanic Studies for several years. Both Shaun and Kim bring knowledge and experience gathered from many travels and studies for over twenty years. They bring to the workshop a practical approach; with a combination of joyful enthusiasm and loving compassion. Shaun and Kim are the recognized trainers for Australia and New Zealand by the Foundation.

Contact Trina at trina@fitsales.com
or view http://www.empoweru.co.nz/ for details.
For accommodation contact Ben at shardacentre@ihug.co.nz

15 - 16 June Shamanic Workshop. Contact Jan Natusch Jan@grafton.co.nz

19 June (Thur) Full Moon Meditation for Peace 7 pm. Contact Carmela Lina 09-237-8189

20 - 22 June The Path of Spiritual Liberty with Pir Zia. $250 for the weekend not inclusive of meals or accommodation. 2 pm start on Friday. Contact Jamila jamilia@clear.net.nz. Pre-booking necessary ($100 deposit) to arrange meals and accommodation.

28 - 29 June Helen Lake's Memorial. Contact Jennie jennifer_spiral@hotmail.com

Report on the Cherag Training weekend 3-4 May 2008

The Theme of the Cherag Training weekend was on the Message. All of those who were in the training participated in the service, lighting candles and doing the readings. Some were courageous in taking a first step in participating in the Universal Worship service. Mansur took the taper for the first time, saying the Invocation and lighting the candles representing the indigenous peoples, the Hindu Religion, the Buddhist Traditions and the Zoroastrian religion. Trish carried the dignity of a Cherag as she read from the scriptures of Islam and from the Gayan. We felt blessed, informed and the light of our hearts was rekindled by being in the group of sincere and dedicated Cherags. Sirrallah gave the talk with some readings taken from the religious gathekas on the theme of the Message. In his talk Sirrallah deepened our understanding of the Message and the work that Pir O Murshid hoped we would understand and embody as Cherags. Sirrallah also read to us about needed understanding at this time on the planet that there is One Spirit of Guidance, One All Loving and Merciful God coming through each of the Great Messengers who brought the religions to the world.
Jamila supported Sirrallah in the talk and felt inspired to share an image of the Universal Worship altar being like the heart of the World, a living heart of living lights.
Maybe it was because we had spent a day and a half contemplating the teachings for Cherags and the deeper meaning and intention that Murshid had for the Universal Worship. Was it possible that the the altar seemed to burn more brightly and come to life because the hearts of each Cherag had been rekindled so that the living light from the Source of light and love was glowing in each of our hearts? Posted by Jamila.

Message from Jamila re Working Bee on 24 & 25 May

Saturday May 24th 10am- 5.30pm stay for dinner and fellowship. Stay overnight if you wish to carry on working on Sunday May 25th. Accommodation charges waived for volunteers. Bring food to share.

Celebrating Halima’s Birthday (May 30th)

One of the last photos of Halima circa 2006 in USA

We do not often have a chance to spend time together in celebration of all that we have been given by Halima and the Sharda center. The Sharda Center is a special place and it is a very significant Sufi Center for New Zealand. Sharda is great a blessing to all through radiating a vibration that is sent out from Sharda to the world

Come and Join and participate in building the energies of welcome Home for Pir Zia and his Family and Devi Tide. Our special guests will be here in 6 weeks. The focus will be:

Preparing for Pir Zia and his family to come and stay at Sharda for 5 nights!
We will be cleaning the cottage and getting it ready for the family to use.
Getting the A frame ready to use. Val-Shafia’s home for the next while.
Cleaning the centrer: windows, curtains, rooms, corners , kitchen, etc
Gardening around the center and the cottage, temple site, under Ben's direction and guidance.
Bring gloves, your favourite cleaning gadgets and cleaning supplies.
Bring your Gumboots, gardening gloves, and if you have an old tarpaulin, wheelbarrow, a chain saw , or weed eater bring them along!
For the garden call Ben to ask what to bring . big loppers and clippers.
This will be a time for having some fun together.
If you can not make this weekend and would like to come at another time please contact Ben to arrange when you would come and what jobs to do.
If you have questions and suggestions please call

Jamila 09-818-0478 or 021-930-881
Ben 09 236 9083 or 021-146-9038
Looking forward to seeing you there.

The Bush at Sharda

Walk to the Bush

Waterfall The Sacred Wood

Other features of the Sharda Centre

Car ParkCampsite
Gazebo
Halima's Memorial
View of Pukekohe

Photos of the Sharda Centre

The Sharda Centre

The Hall

The Kitchen

The Dining Area

The Deck

Sheikh Llewellyn at the Sharda Centre on 27 October, 2007

The Sharda Centre was filled with participants at the workshop by Sheikh Llewellyn on Saturday 27 October. A Sufi Teacher in the Naqshbandiyya-Mujaddidiyya Sufi Order, Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee has specialized in the area of dreamwork, integrating the ancient Sufi approach to dreams with the insights of modern psychology. In recent years the focus of his writing and teaching has been on spiritual responsibility in our present time of transition, and the emerging global consciousness of oneness (see www.workingwithoneness.org).

The Centre began filling up a couple of days before, with participants coming from as far away as the United Kingdom to hear him. Sheikh Llewellyn started his visit with a walk in the grounds, through the bush and visiting the site of where the Temple of Peace is planned. The photo above shows Sheikh Llewellyn on the deck of the Centre with Halima's Cabin in the background.

3 Events with Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee in October

A Sufi Teacher in the Naqshbandiyya-Mujaddidiyya Sufi Order, Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee has specialised in the area of dreamwork, integrating the ancient Sufi approach to dreams with the insights of modern psychology. In recent years the focus of his writing and teaching has been on spiritual responsibility in our present time of transition, and the emerging global consciousness of oneness. Author of several books, including Awakening the World: A Global Dimension to Spiritual Practice, Spiritual Power: How it Works, he lectures throughout the United States, Europe and for the first time in Australia and New Zealand.

Thursday Evening Talk Topic: Awakening the World: A Global Dimension to Spiritual Practice. 25 Oct, 7-9.30 pm

at Blockhouse Bay Boat Club, Endeavour St, Blockhouse Bay, Auckland.

Friday Evening Talk Topic: Anima Mundi: The World Soul,

26 Oct, 7-9 pm at Auckland Unitarian Church, 1A Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby, Auckland.

Saturday One-Day Seminar 27 Oct, 10 am - 5 pm at The Sharda Centre, 15 Percy Graham Dr, Tuakau. Accommodation available but pre-booking needed. Bring a plate for lunch.

For further information and booking, contact Hakim at 021 141 3177 or bailznz@woosh.co.nz

Sufi Classes in Auckland

Sufi classes are held every Thursday night in Auckland. Please contact Jamila 09-480-0889 or Rachman 09-419-6110. Photo shows Jamila with Halima on the USA tour in 2005.

Halima MacEwan - Founder of the Sharda Centre

The vision of this remarkable lady was what started the Sharda Centre. She founded the Trust at the age of 70 years. Her steadfast belief developed that vision for the last 18 years. Now that she is no longer with us physically, her Temple of Peace needs our support to manifest it and to fulfil The Vision.

Welcome to the Sharda Centre Blog

Welcome to the Sharda Centre Blog !

I am trying out blogging in order to supply news about the happenings at the Centre and also to have photos that can be seen easily by all.