Meeting Great Minds
Posted: 8/10/2013
by Cheeseburger Buddha
cheeseburgerbuddha.blogspot.com
I was just a little monkey, wondering what was going on—where my life was heading, and how it would all end when the curtain falls.
My introduction to the Sufi tradition came through my teacher and friend, the late Cikgu Yusof Ali. It was an eye-opener—a cornerstone in my spiritual development. Our long, wandering conversations by the Food Court on Perak Road, facing the City Stadium, often stretched into the early hours. In those sacred hours, I was allowed to ask questions freely. No judgment, no raised eyebrows. I could bare my doubts, speak my heart, and slowly began to find answers that settled gently into my mind.
His daughter, Nani Rohayu, now lives in New York and works as a reporter for Bernama. A driven woman, she also owns Mamak’s Place, a Malaysian restaurant in Queens. From her updates on Facebook, it seems she’s doing very well for herself—she clearly carries her father's passion for life.
Through Cikgu, I was introduced to the profound works of the Sufi saints, most notably Sheikh Abdul Qadir Al-Jilani. His spiritual teachings became my inner compass. His book, The Secret of Secrets, became my guidebook. Through these teachings, I was led to deeper realizations of who I truly am, where I stand on this ever-unfolding spiritual journey.
I became a practicing Muslim, immersed day and night in Zikhrullah—the invocation of the 99 Beautiful Names of Allah. I sat in deep reflection and meditative practice, peeling away layers of myself. In this state, I began to receive insights from unexpected places—books, experiences, people. One such influence was the Turkish mystic Ahmad Hulusi, whose understanding of Islam shook me awake. Hulusi speaks of Muhammad’s Allah—a nuanced, intimate relationship with the Divine, unlike the generic version so often misunderstood by the masses. That concept resonated with me deeply.
All this knowledge is available out there, especially now with the reach of the Internet. One only needs the hunger to seek. The search for Universal Consciousness begins here and now—in this very breath, in the rhythm of my fingers on the keyboard. This is Consciousness expanding collectively. And I no longer apologize for sounding grandiose. I write not from arrogance, but from the impulse to share what flows through me—this unfolding journey toward what Ibn Arabi called the Lord of Power. The journey, lifelong and layered, demands that I shed the mind’s illusions and understand my maqam—my station—how close or far I am from the ultimate realization.
I’ve undergone many metamorphoses—physical, emotional, mental, and most importantly, spiritual. I’ve learned not to get too distracted by life’s roadside attractions. Whether feasting or starving, I try not to take it too personally. My mantras help: This too shall pass... or J. Krishnamurti’s profound simplicity: I don’t mind what happens. These are not easy to live by—but breath by breath, I try.
Still, I ride the Zen train of Shunryu Suzuki Roshi, searching for that elusive buffalo. I continue to work with a question posed by my Rinzai Zen teacher, Junpo Roshi Dennis Kelly of the Hollow Bones Zen Center in the U.S.:
What is the Imperturbable Mind?
(Look him up—what a character!)
Health Update on Junpo (July 15, 2013)
On July 12, Roshi had a stent placed due to a 75% blockage in the LAD artery—the infamous “Widow Maker.” He is recovering well and in good spirits.
– Mondo Zen Sangha
I’ve written about my encounter with Dennis before. If you're curious, just search Hollow Bones Zen. Dennis brought Zen into my life during my time in California in 1983. His choice to open a Zendo on the West Coast brought me to Marin County, and I dove headfirst into the world of Zen. That leap eventually led me to the mountains of Big Sur and multiple sesshins at the Zen Mountain Center.
At the San Francisco Zen Center, particularly Green Gulch Farm, I crossed paths with some of the greatest minds I’ve ever met—poets, doctors, lawyers, healers—each on their own journey of soul healing. I devoured Buddhist texts and sat in dharma talks with legendary figures like Thich Nhat Hanh, or Tay, as we called him. During one lecture, he appointed me Bell Master—as punishment for ringing the Bonsho bell during a Vipassana retreat. That’s how he taught—gentle but sharp.
One of my teachers was Edward Espe Brown, author of The Tassajara Bread Book and head chef at Greens Restaurant. One night, as we headed toward the Pelican Inn for a post-sesshin drink, he sang us a silly song, “Ruddy Toot Toot to the Moon”—the same one I used on my blog profile. During a private mondo session, I once questioned the act of bowing to a statue, being a Muslim. He answered:
“It’s all illusions. If you think you’re bowing to something, then you are. If not, you’re bowing to nothing. But to join a club, you have to follow the rituals. That’s the price you pay for knowledge.”
Another soul I had the honor to sit with was Dainin Katagiri Roshi, founding abbot of the Minnesota Zen Center. He once told me during dokusan (private meeting):
“Always remember your original intention. Why are you here? Then continue on just as you are.”
These are the men and moments that shaped me. Each encounter—a turning point. Each lesson—a marker on the long road to self-knowledge. I write to remember, and I write to pass on what is worth sharing. These memories are my guideposts. My hope is that, if even one of my children reads this and finds inspiration, then I’ve fulfilled a duty. This, too, is zakat—the giving of spiritual wealth.
#MeetingGreatMinds #SufiWisdom #SpiritualJourney #CikguYusofAli #SheikhAbdulQadirAlJilani #TheSecretOfSecrets #AhmadHulusi #Zikhrullah #UniversalConsciousness #IbnArabi #ZenPractice #JunpoRoshi #HollowBonesZen #GreenGulchFarm #ThichNhatHanh #EdwardEspeBrown #DaininKatagiri #Mindfulness #InnerAwakening #SpiritualLegacy #CheeseburgerBuddha
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