Mudita Sabato

Love, Harmony, Beauty

noreply@blogger.com (Mudita Sabato) — Fri, 23 Apr 2021 19:32:00 +0000

The Sufi 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.

Mudita’s Mission Statement

noreply@blogger.com (Alima) — Thu, 22 Apr 2021 19:31:00 +0000

To facilitate and support the healing and spiritual awakening of humanity, through spiritual services and guidance.

By offering my service as a spiritual guide and counselor to individuals & in groups retreat settings. Through the use of inspiring teachings, music and poetry, dialogue and practices; such as concentrations, specific meditations, breathing exercises, mysticism of sound, movement, mantra’s, and walking meditation. Also, through inner work using my skills of Translating Archetypes to reveal your inner story/myth, which will help heal and uprooting all suffering, so that you come to know your soul as your true Self.

Bio

noreply@blogger.com (Alima) — Wed, 21 Apr 2021 19:31:00 +0000

Mudita is an Sufi guide/teacher through the Sufi Ruhaniat International (SRI). She offers spiritual guidance and counseling. As a public speaker, she has giving many inspirational and motivational “Talks” in Kansas City, Des Moines, IA, Minneapolis, MN and Santa Cruz, CA. She officiates over weddings, funerals, christenings, business & house blessings and the Service of Universal Peace, an interfaith service. She leads group, business and individual retreats, benefiting all age groups, through focusing on the breath, using meditations, concentrations, walking mediations, sacred mantras, poetry, mysticism of sound and movement, as a way to experience the nature of the soul as the True Self. Mudita teaches classes in Tibetan Buddhism and Sufism; and also she teaches Whirling as Meditation. Some would call her a "Whirling Dervish." She co-founded Jamtse Tsokpa-Tibetan/American Friendship Society, http://www.jamtsetsokpa.org/ and she was the first tour coordinator and driver for ten Drepung Gomang Tibetan Monks USA American Tour.

The Path...

Mudita was raised Catholic and in her early 20’s she studied with a Lakota Sioux Medicine women, later she found herself on the path of Hinduism. She has studied the daily prayers of Islam, and in her 30’s lived in the Himalayan Mountains, to study Tibetan Buddhism, with her teacher, Lama Tenzen Choden. Her path has helped to develop her inwardly in mystical understanding. In the 1980’s she became a Sufi Initiate, in the Sufi Ruhaniat International (SRI). Her teacher is Murshid Wali Ali Meyer, and he is the Director of SRI-Esoteric School. Today, she is a Sufi guide/teacher and group facilitator of sacred dance, walks, music, voice, movement and “Whirling as Meditation.”

Real People, Real Names: Mudita Sabato

noreply@blogger.com (Alima) — Tue, 20 Apr 2021 08:32:00 +0000

This post is part of a series called, “Real People, Real Names,” a compendium of stories and pictures about people and their names.

Names are basically one or two-word stories. When we see a person’s name, we paint an idea of what to expect before we even meet them. And each person has their own version of a story about their own name. You see, this is what I do. When I meet people, I talk to them about their names. And that’s the purpose of this series of posts. You get to walk into my world a little bit and read about real people and what they think of their names.

If you would like to be considered for this series, use the contact form on this site to reach me.

Today’s Guest: Mudita Sabato

I met Mudita on a Tuesday afternoon at a Kansas City vegetarian eclectic hotspot, Eden Alley. Our server had multiple tattoos and piercings; a sort of bodily manifesto of anti-establishment. In contrast, Mudita’s appearance, while not mainstream, didn’t draw attention per se. But after only a few minutes I knew that I was talking with someone who has lived a life that was her calling; following the beat of her own, unique drummer.

Mudita has a mathematical mind which she has applied in a career both in the financial industry (she previously worked for Meryl Lynch and the KC Board of Trade) and working with small businesses. But she also has a more artistic, spiritual side as well. She’s a Sufi guide. And a Whirling Dervish. She teaches classes on both and shares her enthusiasm for the peace they can bring to today’s troubled minds. She’s lived in India where she studied Tibetan Buddhism. She also has her own business where she works with people to uncover their life archetypes. To say this was a fascinating interview is an understatement. Her name, Mudita, means boundless joy and Mudita in all of her 5’ 2” frame imbues joy and passion at every turn.

Below are excerpts of my interview with Mudita.

Tell me about the name your parents selected for you.

My parents originally wanted to call me Susan but people told them it wouldn’t be right to name a child Susan Sabato. Actually my mom was sort of slow to name me. She had a difficult labor and was in the hospital for a week and for that entire week I was nameless. I guess the hospital refused to let her leave without giving me a name, so she named me Cecily after a French character in a book her grandmother was reading. It’s a good name because it means “lily of the moon.”

Growing up did you have any nicknames?

Oh yes. Some people called me Pee Wee because of my size. Others called me Toboggan, a play on the sound of my last name.

So why did you changed your name to Mudita?

Well, first I would have to give you some background. I’m a Sufi initiate. One meaning of the word Sufi is wisdom. I’m an ordained Sufi minister, which means I officiate weddings, funerals, christenings, and house blessings. I also officiate over what we call Services of Universal Peace. Being a Sufi is about having true experiences.

How did you become a Sufi Minister?

Years ago I found a Sufi guide. I also attended Sufi camps where hundreds of people gather to learn about the Sufi path. There are 12 levels of initiation on the Sufi path and I’ve been walking this path over 23 years now.

We are all more than what we think we are and present to the world, but it’s all compiled together under one name and that’s what we strive to become.

So was it the Sufi teacher who suggested you change your name?

Yes. In fact, I grew up catholic, but I spent a lot of time questioning life in my early twenties. That’s how I found Sufism in the first place. Interestingly enough, my sister and I discovered it at about the same time.

People are so interesting. We’re always trying to label things. Including ourselves. We’re always trying to make ourselves more defined. I like to think of a wheel analogy. Imagine you have a wheel and you take it apart and lay all the pieces down in front of you. Are all the pieces on the ground still a wheel? We are all more than what we think we are and present to the world, but it’s all compiled together under one name and that’s what we strive to become.

When you’re initiated as a Sufi, your guide assigns you a name. Each name has meaning and the name assigned to you is usually a quality you’re moving toward. So, for example, if you’re not very grateful or giving, you might be called Shakur which means gratefulness.

During my first Sufi initiation, my teacher gave me the name Fatima Medina.

So did everyone call you Fatima or just the people within the Sufi tradition?

All my friends on the Sufi path called me Fatima and at the time my (now ex) husband and I had a business together where we analyzed people’s archetypes to help them better understand and know their inner beings. We traveled around the country giving presentations and talking to people. My ex-husband called me Fatima and the next thing I knew, everyone was calling me that, even my neighbors.

How did your family react to the change?

My mom was supportive of the name Fatima because it sounds like the name of the holy saint, Our Lady of Fatima.

And now you’re Mudita. Do you change your name with each level of initiation?

Oh no! In fact, most Sufis are given one name and that’s it. I was given the name Mudita about 10 years ago reflecting the huge life transformations that had occurred for me. When I was given the name Fatima I had just become a Sufi after a lifetime of being catholic. For a while I studied Native American Indian traditions and learned from a Lakota Sioux teacher. From there I studied Hinduism and Islam, before I finally settled in with being a Sufi. I was in a completely different place then.

In the meantime I traveled to Northern India where I lived and studied Tibetan Buddhism. I’ve had two Tibetan high teachers tell me (if there is such a thing as previous life), I was probably a Tibetan monk before.

I hadn’t seen my Sufi guide in quite awhile and when he saw me after all the traveling and studying and life changes he said I was different and needed a new name. It’s very unusual to have a second name change. He named me Mudita.

So I have to ask, what does Mudita mean?

Buddhism has four boundless states that some people call the Four Immeasurables. It’s said that if you can achieve one then you can achieve all of them. These levels are:

Metta which means boundless love or loving-kindness
Karuna which means compassion
Mudita which means sympathetic (boundless) joy
Upekkha which means equanimity
He said he selected the name Mudita because of my ability to share in the joy of others.

I’m curious, how did your family react to this second name change?

When I told my mom that my name was now Mudita she was upset. She said that Fatima was such a beautiful name and she asked me to continue to use it.

I feel at each moment I’m trying to impregnate the air around me with joy.

So your mom was more upset about this name change than the first one?

Yes. Even a year later she and my sister asked me to go back to the name Fatima because they thought it was beautiful. I told them that my name is now Mudita and it was given to me as a blessing.

The story of Adam and Eve is an illustration about how we’re born into a reality of name and form. As a result we’re always trying to name things in order to identify them. Names have a sound quality that has significant bearing on us as humans. There are a couple of books that describe the different names of god and how we can use these names to help heal our inner selves. If you need more of something in your life, you can select the corresponding name of god and meditate upon that.

You said your sister is a Sufi. Did she change her name too?

Her name was Stephanie but her Sufi name is Nuria which means divine light. Both my sister and I have lived in India at different times over the years. I traveled there again after a recent trip of hers and while I was in a town that was probably three to four day’s travel from the town where my sister stayed, a monk asked if I was Nuria’s sister. We’re a few years apart in age but we look that much alike.

When I was a kid people would ask me my name and I would say, Cecily Sabato and they would respond, “Hi, Stephanie.” I think we’ve always felt connected like that.

You also practice and teach the art of being a whirling dervish?

I teach whirling as a source of meditation. It’s part of my path to understand true essence. There’s a lot of suffering in the human heart. A lot of people don’t really understand their suffering and instead find ways to bury it deeper, but they know they’re unhappy. Whirling is one way to help heal that suffering. The whirling comes from the tradition of Mevlana Jelaladin (Rumi), from the 12th century. I don’t know if you’ve read any Rumi poetry, but if you ever feel like you need a friend, read Rumi. He understood the nature of life and existence.

As a whirling dervish you spend time meditating to movement. It’s basically a dance. I’m teaching a class at Unity Temple on the Plaza where we learn to whirl to the poetry of Rumi and meditational music. It’s a wonderful class!

Sounds very inspiring. Is this what motivates you?

Definitely, I like teaching and helping others. I feel at each moment I’m trying to impregnate the air around me with joy. I think I can be a little intense at times, but it is who I am. I love being with people and I like to help them find ways to heal their suffering. I’m teaching a class on Tibetan Buddhism and I’m also organizing a guided meditational trip to India for 2011. I’m calling it Caravan of the Loving Heart and we’ll be visiting Sufi, Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh and Bah’I Temples. It will be a pilgrimage for those who choose a deep experience without paying high prices and are willing to travel in a modest way so that we can keep the trip affordable.

This has been such an interesting interview. As we conclude, are there any parting thoughts you would like to share?

We all have received the precious gift of human birth. We should be careful not to flitter it away. The Buddhists say to practice dharma like your hair is on fire. I want to be this – to be aware and alive and to help others find their way as well.

I wish to express many thanks to Mudita Sabato for her time discussing her name with me. Mudita is in the process of developing her website, so look for it in the future.

To read the original article, please visit Namely Marly

noreply@blogger.com (Mudita Sabato) — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 16:16:00 +0000

Audio Murshid Wali Ali on our Sufi Lineage.

The Sufi Invocation. What it means to be a student on the Sufi path. Part 1

What it means to be a student on the Sufi path. Part 2.

Mursid Khabir Kitz & Mudita - Brooklyn Museum - June 2009

Zikr with Mudita, 5/17/12, Des Moines, IA

noreply@blogger.com (Mudita Sabato) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 19:46:00 +0000

Sufi Zikr with Mudita Sabato

Thursday, May 17, 2012

7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Des Moines, IA 50311

All are welcome!

Open to all spiritual traditions.

About group Sufi Zikr

Zikr incorporates beautiful music, singing/chanting, simple movements, and the chance to bring the whole body into prayer. Zikr is a prayer practice and is an ancient practice of Remembrance. Remembrance of what? Of the Divine (of the Oneness/God/Truth/Existence). One could say that Zikr is a method to wipe the rust from the heart, so the Light of the Soul, that is hidden in the globe of the heart, can be reflect out into the world...like a light being reflected through a crystal.

"Sufism is based on experiences"... of Oneness through spiritual practices...not concepts about spiritual practices!

For direction and/or questions call 816-686-7668.

Suggested love offering for Zikr is $5.00.

If you are unfamiliar with Zikr, you can listen to a portion of a Sufi Zikr that I lead in KC last year:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/jcdhtpkm0hjjsq6/St_Mary_070911_Astafer%27Allah.mp3?m
https://www.dropbox.com/s/apoqpz6jwopn5uf/St_Marys070911HIK%232.mp3?m
https://www.dropbox.com/s/xb7dsq9d7cprf9m/StMarys070911HeartofRemembrance%233.mp3?m

Archetype Sessions with Mudita

September 20-23, 2012, I will be offering Archetypes Sessions, in Des Moines. Here is some information about my Archetype work: http://www.muditasabato.blogspot.com/p/archetype-work.html

Mysticism: a Sufi Retreat March 2 & 3, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Alima) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:56:00 +0000

Ministerial

noreply@blogger.com (Alima) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 10:12:00 +0000

As a minister, I offer my service to officiate for spiritual/tradition weddings, holy unions, funerals, christenings, businesses/house blessings, and to give inspirational and meditative public talks. Through presenting the “Ideal of Diversity” an Interfaith type service called, The Service of Universal Peace, which so beautifully brings with its message that there is only One Light manifested through the many. This service teaches us that when we see from another point of view, we are raised above all distinction and differences. With this new point of view, we can begin to grow more love, harmony and beauty in the world, which will create more peace.

World Day of Prayer, 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Alima) — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 09:26:00 +0000

Caravan of Rumi, World Day of Prayer, Worldwide Headquarters of Unity, 2011

Heart and Wings

noreply@blogger.com (Alima) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 08:52:00 +0000

Testimonials

noreply@blogger.com (Alima) — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 10:32:00 +0000

I met Mudita Sabato at a weekend celebration in Des Moines called REMEMBERING YOUR DIVINE NATURE. From the first moment she made me feel relaxed, comfortable, and so congenial with simple delight. Sometime later I noticed with a bit of surprise that all her friendly simplicity had opened imperceptibly into lots of light, and a sacred feeling of closeness with the Divine Beloved.
Virginia Holt, Des Moines, IA - 10/08/11

09/11 - Retreat, Des Moines, IA

noreply@blogger.com (Alima) — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 20:20:00 +0000

Zikr Estafer'Allah, St. Mary's, Kansas City, MO,July 9, 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Alima) — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 07:47:00 +0000

Note: There will be a commercial prior to the recordings, please click on the upper right corner to make it disappear. The recording of Part 1 starts after a silence of 23 seconds. Thank you for your patience.

St_Mary_070911_Astafer'Allah.mp3
St_Marys070911 Hazrat Inayat Khan Zikr/Poetry
St_Marys_070911_Heart_of_Remembrance

04/11 - Spencer Museum, Kansas University Rumi Beyond Borders

noreply@blogger.com (Alima) — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 09:24:00 +0000

03/11 - Winter's Lights - KC Interfaith Program

noreply@blogger.com (Alima) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 10:23:00 +0000

"...there are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground"

01/11 - Minister's Tea - A Rumi Performance

noreply@blogger.com (Alima) — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 10:22:00 +0000

Archetype Translation and Releasing

noreply@blogger.com (Alima) — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 10:04:00 +0000

Archetype Translation and Releasing
With Mudita Sabato

With this work your inner myth will be revealed to you, through your archetypes. Archetypes are primordial; they exist prior to our birth. I have found that we have as many Archetypes as we have human experiences. Some of the archetypes are “generative” or one could say that they are on the positive side of our inner myth. When we live from our positive archetypes, or impressions, we feel a sense of inner fulfillment and purpose to our lives. Some of the archetypes are “degenerative” or negative, and create a sense of inner imbalance, creating afflicted emotions, which cause us to suffer.

During the muscle testing process in the first session, you will be tested for about 150 impressions, we will find impression which are a part of your inner story. We will discuss how the impressions affect your life. One is able to see that the degenerative side of the inner myth is not who you truly are, and with that, an inner desire arises to be free of the unwanted impressions. At the end of each session I will guide you through a meditational temple tapping process. Through this hypnotic process, one sheds their own inner light on these degenerative qualities. This releases you from the unwanted degenerative impressions and from projecting them into existence. This will help you change the shape of your life and inner story. Allowing the qualities of you generative myth to surface in your life, creating more fulfillment. The work is insightful, life giving, and liberates one into a more fulfilling life.

I have traveled throughout the U.S. translating individuals Archetypes and have translated over 6000 individuals' inner stories/myths.

I am available for phone Archetype sessions and would be available to come to your town to offer a "Archetype Translation Information Public Talk" and during this time I would be available for individual sessions.

12/10 - Rumi's Urs - Kansas City, MO

noreply@blogger.com (Alima) — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 10:21:00 +0000

02/10 - Service of Universal Peace, Unity Temple, Kansas City, MO

noreply@blogger.com (Alima) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 10:11:00 +0000

02/10 - Service of Universal Peace, Unity Temple, Kansas City, MO

noreply@blogger.com (Alima) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 10:10:00 +0000

12/09 - Sacred Heart Connecticut University, CT - Rumi Whirling Dervishes

noreply@blogger.com (Alima) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 10:20:00 +0000

Gatheka 2 Candidate Papers

noreply@blogger.com (Alima) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 08:50:00 +0000

Sufism: The Spirit of All Religions
By Pir-O-Murshid Inayat Khan

The word Sufi, or Saf, implies purity, which contains two qualities. That is pure which is unmixed with any element other than its own, or in other words, that is pure which existed in its own element unalloyed and unstained. And secondly, that is pure which is most adaptable. Pure water, for instance, is water without the mixture of anything else, and the test of its purity is that it can adapt itself to whatever is mixed with it. If it is mixed with a red powder it becomes red, if with a green powder, green. Such is the nature of the Sufi. In the first place the Sufis purify themselves by keeping the vision of God always before them, not allowing the stains of earthly differences and distinctions to be mirrored upon their heart. Neither good nor bad society, nor intercourse with people of high or low class, nor faith or belief can ever interfere with one’s purity.

The Sufi shows universal kinship in one’s adaptability. Among Christians one is a Christian, among Jews one is a Jew, among Muslims, a Muslim, among Hindus, a Hindu, for a Sufi is with all and thus all are with the Sufi. Sufis allow everyone to join with them in the brother/sisterhood, and in the same way allow themselves to join in any other. The Sufi never questions, “What is your creed, nation, or religion?” Neither does a Sufi ask, “What are your teachings or principles?” If you call a Sufi brother or sister, one answers as brother or sister.

The Sufi has no fixed principles, because what is sweet may be beneficial to one and harmful to another, and it is thus with all principles, good or bad, kind or cruel. If you require of soldiers that they should be merciful during a battle they will at once be defeated. This shows that each person has one’s own principles for each action and situation.

The Sufi is a true Christian in life, in charity, in kinship and in that one heals one’s own soul as well as that of another. The Sufi may not be bigoted in adherence to a particular church or in forsaking the other masters who came before and after Christ, but the Sufi’s attunement with Christ and appreciation and practice of truth are as keen as those of what a true Christian should be. In the lives of the dervishes one sees the real picture of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, especially in that they share their food and abode with others whether they be friend or foe. Even to the present day, they continue in their pure ways. The Sufi is a Catholic in producing the picture of the ideal of devotion in one’s soul, and the Sufi is a Protestant in giving up the ceremonies of the cult. The Sufi is a Brahmin, for the word Brahmin means knower of Brahma, of God, the Only Being.

The Sufi’s religion lies in believing in no other existence than that of God, which the Brahmin calls Advaita. The Sufi has as many grades of spiritual evolution to go through as the Yogi. There is even very little difference to be found in their practices, the difference being chiefly in the names.

Of course, the Sufi chooses a normal life in preference to that of an ascetic, yet does not restrict him/herself either to the former or to the latter. The Sufi considers the teachings of the avatars as true manifestations of the divine wisdom and is in perfect sympathy with the subtle knowledge of the Vedanta. The Sufi appreciates the Jain conception of harmlessness and considers that kindness is the only true path of purity and perfection.

YouTube videos Mudita Whirling

noreply@blogger.com (Alima) — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 09:19:00 +0000

Gatheka 8 Candidate Papers

noreply@blogger.com (Alima) — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 08:49:00 +0000

Shams-i-Tabriz, the Shiva of Persia, was flayed alive by the people because he had been accused of declaring that the Godhead existed in his mortal body. From his decayed flesh small vermin grew and waxed larger and larger as they devoured it and he, when while walking saw any of them fall from him would pick them up and place them again upon his body saying, “Your food has been created in this.”

From past times until the present Sufis have shown great renunciation in their lives. Now most of them are as Jains or Brahmins, leading a most harmless life.

The Sufi is Muslim without any doubt, not only because many Muslims turn out to be Sufis or because of the use of Muslim phraseology, but because one proves in one’s life what a true Muslim is and what the heart of the true Muslim ought to be. Muslims as a race have so much devotion that no matter how great a sinner or how cruel a person may be, the name of Allah or Mohammed at once reduces them to tears. Islam prepares one to become a Sufi. The practices of Sufism first develop the heart qualities which are often overlooked by other mystics. It is the purification of the heart which makes it fitted for the illumination from the soul. The Prophet Mohammed prophesied, “There will be seventy-two diverse classes of people among those who will walk in my light, but among them there will be only one kind who will surely find their way aright.” This is applied to the Sufis because it is they who read the Qur’an from every experience in life, and see and recognize Mohammed’s face in each atom of the manifestation.

The Sufi is a Buddhist for one reasons at every step one takes as one proceeds in one’s spiritual journey. The teachings of the Sufis are much akin to those of the Buddhists. In fact it is the Sufi who unites the believers and the unbelievers in the idea of God, in the knowledge of unity. The Sufi, as a Zoroastrian or a Parsi, looks toward the sun, and bows before the air, fire, water, and earth, recognizing the immanence of God in God’s manifestation, taking the sun, moon, and stars as the signs of God. The Sufi interprets fire as the symbol of wisdom and the sun as the celestial light. The Sufi not only bows before them but also absorbs their quality. As a rule, in the presence of dervishes, a wood fire and incense burn continually. The Sufi is an Israelite especially in the study of the different names of God and the mastery of them. At the same time the miraculous powers of Moses can be seen in the lives of Sufis past and present. The Sufi, in fact, is the master of Hebrew mysticism. The divine voice heard on Mount Sinai is audible to a Sufi today.

10/08 - Service of Universal Peace,First Unitarian Church-Des Moine, IA

noreply@blogger.com (Alima) — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 09:08:00 +0000