One time when I was talking with Asha on the phone, she told me to stop whatever I was doing and walk outside, sit down, and look up at the sky. We said goodbye and then I immediately followed her suggestion. As I sat in the grass looking up at the sky my neighbor walked by. She came up to me and handed me a huge bouquet of gardenias that she had just harvested from her garden and said “I saw you there and I just thought you should have these”. Feeling deeply touched and in the light of blessing, I thanked her and she walked away.
Thank you, Asha, for your loving friendship and gentle wise ways.
I met Asha at my first JK at the Abode. I joined her morning meditation class and was so moved by her presence and and her stillness. It was a beautiful reminder of my time in Zen practice in the 80s and I was delighted to find this depth of sitting in this Sufi setting.
Half way through the session it started to snow outside, and she got so excited and got up and drew our attention to the gentle white powder falling from the sky. Coming from Australia I too was excited to see the snow. In Sydney it never snows. It was wonderful to see her instantly transform from the Zen master to a playful child. What a joyful moment she left in my memory!
And then she returned to the stillness just as quickly.
I know it’s not complete to refer to death as anything other. But one who so gracefully enjoys the fullest beauty of the whole of living and dying bears witness to something that death cannot touch.
Asha abides in the deep places she touched in my heart, particularly with a couple of lovingly powerful comments she gave to me to carry.
Asha was in charge of a concentration that involved sending cards to people, maybe after they made a donation. I no longer really recall the reason. I had volunteered to send out cards. It was a monthly activity. Things went smoothly for awhile – but then life got challenging, and I missed a month. Feeling guilty as hell, I figured I would double up the next batch. Again, I ran into distractions and resistance. I was not able to recognize that maybe this concentration was not for me. Tried to power through. And with each missed commitment, I became more and more burdened with guilt which was made worse by the fact of fearing the judgment of others. I finally screwed up the courage to phone Asha. I told her that I had missed the commitment and offered my apology and asked if someone else might take up the concentration. I tried to explain the difficulties I was having. Asha interrupted me … and with the most compassion ever, she said something along the lines of “Oh I had no idea you were suffering like this – please stop – of course I will find someone else.” That right there is the kind of teaching that sticks.
Asha was the first person I noticed to use the sign off at the end of a letter or email – “Love from Everywhere” – which I adopted.
Once in Silent Retreat in Mendocino Sufi Camp, Asha told me that teaching others to understand that being intuitive was a gift, not a sin, was one of the greatest gifts I could teach our children.
I vividly recall being with Asha numerous times at México Sufi dance camp at the beautiful retreat center of Mar de Jade. Her groundedness, humanity, and deep wisdom were a source of comfort and joy for me. Participating in her Japanese Tea Ceremony was to swim in grace. When Atum was brought in to partner with her in these retreats, it felt like kindred souls dancing for the benefit of all. Surely she rests with the Beloved for all eternity. La illaha ilahu! ?
At my first Alps Camp, I met Pir Vilayat, Lama Chimi, Asha and her friend Deirdre (who later became Pema Chödrön). Those eight weeks established the orientation and foundation for the rest of my life. I have now known Asha for 50 years. At the Alps Camp I never could have imagined that we would be co-teachers at the Mexico Camp for over 20 years. Another powerful example of the synchronicity that supports the underlying design of one’s journey, is the timing of Asha‘s dying. She passed as the sun was rising on the morning of the first day of the Zoomed Mexico Camp. A community that loves and learns from her was gathering for what became a three day retreat honoring and celebrating her life and being.
The following are some of the profound contributions that Asha made to the well-being of the human family:
• She was a founder, sustainer, protector, and source of spiritual guidance for the Lama Foundation.
• Asha was a senior teacher and guide within the Sufi Ruhaniat, with many students.
• Drawing upon her experience as a nurse, she initiated a hospice program.
• Asha helped implement a program to support Tibetan refugees.
• She was a school principal working with children.
• Asha was the designer for two important spiritual books, Be Here Now by Ram Dass and Toward The One by Pir Vilayat.
• She was also the initial illustrator for the Buddhist magazine Tricycle.
• In the Spiritual Guidance Training, we work with a deck of cards Asha created that have various of her paintings on one side and Good Seeds teachings on the other.
And I would like to add my personal tribute and expression of gratitude to Asha, and what I have witnessed manifesting in and through her…
Thank you Asha for being the embodiment of living truth in a human being.
Thank you Asha for your fierce compassion and tender, vulnerable, love.
Thank you Asha for lifting us into ecstatic freedom with your liberating laughter.
Thank you Asha for helping to open the way for the emergence of a more realized feminine in our time.
Thank you Asha for fully embracing your individuation and modeling how to break free of the prison of collective expectations.
Thank you Asha for the astounding legacy of your art arising out of the ocean of your creative imagination.
Thank you Asha for teaching us a living spirituality, not frozen concepts, dogma, or rigid systems.
Thank you Asha for claiming the right to be occasionally outrageous, breaking the expected persona of stiff piety.
Thank you Asha for uniquely embodying the spectrum of divine qualities and manifesting them in your service to the cries of humanity.
Thank you Asha for sharing the illuminating passage of your dying, into love, harmony, and beauty.
Thank you Asha, for death has not diminished your presence and the mingling of our souls.
Thank you Asha for the amazing grace of our friendship.
There are so many wonderful things to say about Asha. When I was young and went on a spiritual quest to try to figure out what it was all about, I met Asha. She was the first one that made a deep impression on me. Many great lessons from her. If we meet, ask me, we will share Asha stories.
Thank You Asha for all the things you shared with us on this plane.
Dear Asha,
I am so grateful for everything you have given me. I think of the teahouse as a home – spiritual and in all kinds of other ways. You are a catalyst, a mystery, a challenge, balm, inspirer, healer, fountain of wisdom and creativity. There is no question you smooth over; your answers are bold, frank, surprising, something to chew on while sounding so simple. Emptiness, space, love. You dare to be be who you are in all of your greatness and explorations. You are beautiful. Always will be.
Silke
It is with hesitation that I write. I have met Asha during the Federation Retreat in The Abode; several times I think. I have no other specific memory than having met a woman who was TRUE. I am still grateful for that.
Deep gratitude for your support, dear Asha, during difficult times in our lives. You sent so much love during my husband Karim’s heart surgery… BEAM BEAM BEAM on, dear One!
For when we shared our souls in Mendo. Salaam, Beloved Asha.
One time when I was talking with Asha on the phone, she told me to stop whatever I was doing and walk outside, sit down, and look up at the sky. We said goodbye and then I immediately followed her suggestion. As I sat in the grass looking up at the sky my neighbor walked by. She came up to me and handed me a huge bouquet of gardenias that she had just harvested from her garden and said “I saw you there and I just thought you should have these”. Feeling deeply touched and in the light of blessing, I thanked her and she walked away.
Thank you, Asha, for your loving friendship and gentle wise ways.
I met Asha at my first JK at the Abode. I joined her morning meditation class and was so moved by her presence and and her stillness. It was a beautiful reminder of my time in Zen practice in the 80s and I was delighted to find this depth of sitting in this Sufi setting.
Half way through the session it started to snow outside, and she got so excited and got up and drew our attention to the gentle white powder falling from the sky. Coming from Australia I too was excited to see the snow. In Sydney it never snows. It was wonderful to see her instantly transform from the Zen master to a playful child. What a joyful moment she left in my memory!
And then she returned to the stillness just as quickly.
They say that no one gets out alive.
I know it’s not complete to refer to death as anything other. But one who so gracefully enjoys the fullest beauty of the whole of living and dying bears witness to something that death cannot touch.
Asha abides in the deep places she touched in my heart, particularly with a couple of lovingly powerful comments she gave to me to carry.
Ya Murshida, ya Shakur, ya Fattah!
Asha was in charge of a concentration that involved sending cards to people, maybe after they made a donation. I no longer really recall the reason. I had volunteered to send out cards. It was a monthly activity. Things went smoothly for awhile – but then life got challenging, and I missed a month. Feeling guilty as hell, I figured I would double up the next batch. Again, I ran into distractions and resistance. I was not able to recognize that maybe this concentration was not for me. Tried to power through. And with each missed commitment, I became more and more burdened with guilt which was made worse by the fact of fearing the judgment of others. I finally screwed up the courage to phone Asha. I told her that I had missed the commitment and offered my apology and asked if someone else might take up the concentration. I tried to explain the difficulties I was having. Asha interrupted me … and with the most compassion ever, she said something along the lines of “Oh I had no idea you were suffering like this – please stop – of course I will find someone else.” That right there is the kind of teaching that sticks.
Asha was the first person I noticed to use the sign off at the end of a letter or email – “Love from Everywhere” – which I adopted.
Once in Silent Retreat in Mendocino Sufi Camp, Asha told me that teaching others to understand that being intuitive was a gift, not a sin, was one of the greatest gifts I could teach our children.
I vividly recall being with Asha numerous times at México Sufi dance camp at the beautiful retreat center of Mar de Jade. Her groundedness, humanity, and deep wisdom were a source of comfort and joy for me. Participating in her Japanese Tea Ceremony was to swim in grace. When Atum was brought in to partner with her in these retreats, it felt like kindred souls dancing for the benefit of all. Surely she rests with the Beloved for all eternity. La illaha ilahu! ?
At my first Alps Camp, I met Pir Vilayat, Lama Chimi, Asha and her friend Deirdre (who later became Pema Chödrön). Those eight weeks established the orientation and foundation for the rest of my life. I have now known Asha for 50 years. At the Alps Camp I never could have imagined that we would be co-teachers at the Mexico Camp for over 20 years. Another powerful example of the synchronicity that supports the underlying design of one’s journey, is the timing of Asha‘s dying. She passed as the sun was rising on the morning of the first day of the Zoomed Mexico Camp. A community that loves and learns from her was gathering for what became a three day retreat honoring and celebrating her life and being.
The following are some of the profound contributions that Asha made to the well-being of the human family:
• She was a founder, sustainer, protector, and source of spiritual guidance for the Lama Foundation.
• Asha was a senior teacher and guide within the Sufi Ruhaniat, with many students.
• Drawing upon her experience as a nurse, she initiated a hospice program.
• Asha helped implement a program to support Tibetan refugees.
• She was a school principal working with children.
• Asha was the designer for two important spiritual books, Be Here Now by Ram Dass and Toward The One by Pir Vilayat.
• She was also the initial illustrator for the Buddhist magazine Tricycle.
• In the Spiritual Guidance Training, we work with a deck of cards Asha created that have various of her paintings on one side and Good Seeds teachings on the other.
And I would like to add my personal tribute and expression of gratitude to Asha, and what I have witnessed manifesting in and through her…
Thank you Asha for being the embodiment of living truth in a human being.
Thank you Asha for your fierce compassion and tender, vulnerable, love.
Thank you Asha for lifting us into ecstatic freedom with your liberating laughter.
Thank you Asha for helping to open the way for the emergence of a more realized feminine in our time.
Thank you Asha for fully embracing your individuation and modeling how to break free of the prison of collective expectations.
Thank you Asha for the astounding legacy of your art arising out of the ocean of your creative imagination.
Thank you Asha for teaching us a living spirituality, not frozen concepts, dogma, or rigid systems.
Thank you Asha for claiming the right to be occasionally outrageous, breaking the expected persona of stiff piety.
Thank you Asha for uniquely embodying the spectrum of divine qualities and manifesting them in your service to the cries of humanity.
Thank you Asha for sharing the illuminating passage of your dying, into love, harmony, and beauty.
Thank you Asha, for death has not diminished your presence and the mingling of our souls.
Thank you Asha for the amazing grace of our friendship.
Atum
There are so many wonderful things to say about Asha. When I was young and went on a spiritual quest to try to figure out what it was all about, I met Asha. She was the first one that made a deep impression on me. Many great lessons from her. If we meet, ask me, we will share Asha stories.
Thank You Asha for all the things you shared with us on this plane.
Subhan
Dear Asha,
I am so grateful for everything you have given me. I think of the teahouse as a home – spiritual and in all kinds of other ways. You are a catalyst, a mystery, a challenge, balm, inspirer, healer, fountain of wisdom and creativity. There is no question you smooth over; your answers are bold, frank, surprising, something to chew on while sounding so simple. Emptiness, space, love. You dare to be be who you are in all of your greatness and explorations. You are beautiful. Always will be.
Silke
It is with hesitation that I write. I have met Asha during the Federation Retreat in The Abode; several times I think. I have no other specific memory than having met a woman who was TRUE. I am still grateful for that.
Deep gratitude for your support, dear Asha, during difficult times in our lives. You sent so much love during my husband Karim’s heart surgery… BEAM BEAM BEAM on, dear One!