Sufi Remembrance

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4 Memories for “Edouard Auguste Caldwell Gauthier”

1. on 14 May 2012 at 6:21 pm1Vakil

   I knew Edouard for most of my life. I was so young the last time I saw him that I don’t have any specific memories, but I have this picture of him with a big, friendly smile. The picture on top really says it all for me.

2. on 05 Sep 2013 at 10:50 pm2Wazir

   Ah Edouard – what a wonderful, dear, and generous friend – and such a great sense of humor. I have so many found memories that are frequently triggered. I lived with him and Savitri for 6 months (virtually rent free) while finishing my graduate programme at the University of Baltimore. I was in dire straights with my living and financial situation when they invited me in; they provided great emotional support and made all the difference. I miss you dearly my friend.

3. on 07 Mar 2014 at 3:53 pm3Azim Nagle

   Edouard was a dear friend of mine.
   When I first arrived at The Abode in 1979, Edouard introduced me to The Abode, to the people and to Sufism. He showed me the ropes. We spent many days together delivering and installing wood stoves for our boss Subhan Hamilton, who managed The Wood Stove Store in New Lebanon.
   Later I lived with Edouard and his wonderful wife Savitri at Andy and June Ross’s farm.

   Edouard Gauthier:
   He was never in a hurry
   He was never stingy
   He cheered me up when I was down
   He explained cool stuff to me

   We are going to have a great time in Heaven!

4. on 12 Apr 2014 at 10:10 pm4Savitri

   Edouard’s Memorial Service
   Edouard Auguste Caldwell Gauthier
   July 7, 1933 – March 23, 2004
   ?
   ?
   Universal Worship Order of Service
   Invocation
   Lighting of Candles
   Prayer Saum
   Praise be to Thee, Most Supreme God, Omnipotent, Omnipresent, All pervading, the Only Being.
   Take us in Thy Parental Arms, raise us from the denseness of the earth.
   Thy Beauty do we worship, to Thee do we give willing surrender, Most Merciful and Compassionate God, the Idealized Lord of the whole humanity.
   Thee only do we worship, and towards Thee Alone do we aspire.
   Open our hearts towards Thy Beauty, illuminate our souls with Divine Light, O Thou, the Perfection of Love, Harmony and Beauty.
   All-powerful Creator, Sustainer, Judge and Forgiver of our shortcom- ings, Lord God of the East and of the West, of the worlds above and below, and of the seen and unseen beings,
   Pour upon us Thy Love and Thy Light, give sustenance to our bodies, hearts and souls, use us for the purpose that Thy Wisdom chooseth, and guide us on the path of Thine Own Goodness.
   Draw us closer to Thee every moment of our life, until in us be reflected Thy Grace,Thy Glory,Thy Wisdom,Thy Joy and Thy Peace.
   Amen
   –1–
   Readings from World Scriptures
   Reminiscences
   Prayer Salat
   Most gracious Lord, Master, Messiah, and Savior of humanity, We greet Thee with all humility.
   Thou art the First Cause and the Last Effect, the Divine Light and the Spirit of Guidance,Alpha and Omega.
   Thy Light is in all forms,Thy Love in all beings: in a loving mother, in a kind father, in an innocent child, in a helpful friend, in an inspiring teacher.
   Allow us to recognize Thee in all Thy holy names and forms; as Rama, as Krishna, as Shiva, as Buddha. Let us know Thee as Abraham, as Solomon, as Zarathushtra, as Moses, as Jesus, as Mohammed, and in many other names and forms, known and unknown to the world.
   We adore Thy past;Thy presence deeply enlighteneth our being, and we look for Thy blessing in the future. O Messenger, Christ, Nabi, the Rasul of God! Thou Whose heart constantly reacheth up- ward,Thou comest on earth with a message, as a dove from above when Dharma decayeth, and speakest the Word that is put intoThy mouth, as the light filleth the crescent moon.
   Let the star of the Divine Light shining in Thy heart be reflected in the hearts of Thy devotees.
   May the Message of God reach far and wide, illuminating and making the whole humanity as one single family in the Parent- hood of God.
   Amen.
   –2–
   Burial Suras
   Burial Sermon
   Prayer for the Dead
   Blessing Prayer
   Prayer Khatum
   O Thou,Who art the Perfection of Love, Harmony and Beauty,The Lord of Heaven and Earth,
   Open our hearts, that we may hear Thy Voice, which constantly cometh from within;
   Disclose to us Thy Divine Light, which is hidden in our souls,That we may know and understand life better.
   Most Merciful and Compassionate God, give us Thy Great Goodness,
   Teach us Thy Loving Forgiveness, Raise us above the distinctions and differences which divide us,
   Send us the Peace of Thy Divine Spirit,And unite us all in Thy Perfect Being.
   Amen
   Benediction

   I walk around and blink my eyes and think
   Good God!
   there it is —
   the world — everything — happening —
   Blast me with goodness
   undo me with delight
   assail me with the hosts
   of what is good to life.
   I want to vanquish nothing
   for to win there must be strife, much rather would I know
   the even flow
   of goodness forever.
   Poems
   I would rejoice in what’s to be done I would find experience good I would be delighted by what goes on

   The Paka Paka Song
   There are none like us!
   There are none like us!
   If there are, there aren’t many!
   Songs
   A Round
   Ah, what a beautiful thing it is to sing Your praises Lord,
   and from on high the honor! Sing of the faithful hearts! Sing!
   Edouard’s Song
   The earth, the winds, The rain and the fire. The sun is my friend,
   The moon is my lover.
   The sun, my very being! The moon, my lover.

   Claire Fontaine
   A la claire fontaine, m’en alant promener,
   J’ai trouve l’eau si belle que je m’y suis baigne.
   At the clear fountain, as I went for a stroll, I found the water so beautiful, that I bathed in it.
   Sous les feuilles d’un chene, je me suis fait secher. Sur la plus haute branche, un rossignol chantait.
   Under the leaves of an oak tree, I dried myself. On the highest branch, a nightingale was singing.
   Chante, rossignol, chante, toi qui as le coeur gai. Tu as le coeur a rire, moi, je l’aita pleurer.
   Sing, nightingale, sing, you, who have a joyous heart. Your heart is full of laughter, while mine is full of tears.
   Refrain
   Il ya longtemps que je t’aime, Jamais je ne t’oublie’rai.
   I have loved you for a long time, I will never forget you.

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