Kalyani DuPont
The following excerpts are taken from his funeral service, held on 9th June 2009, in Aldershot Crematorium. The Hall was packed – seats full, walls lined, with friends and family of all ages. As well as a devoted mureed in the Sufi Way, Bhajan was Seraj-un-Munir which involved leading the Church of All, on behalf of the Pir of the Sufi Way. He wrote the order of service himself, making many detailed changes in the last months of his life; he chose the readings from the world’s scriptures, and the music.
A Service for the Life of Seraj-un-Munir Bhajan Swords
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 Spirit of Guidance
Welcome Friends,
We have come together today to honour the life and to mark the passing of Bernard Bhajan Swords; a friend, brother, uncle, mentor; a sweetheart, lover, anam cara – a man who was intrinsically devotional, kind, intelligent, thoughtful and compassionate, who could also be wickedly humorous and fiercely independent; Bhajan had great wisdom which was only surpassed by his humility.
He was interested in all aspects of life, in politics, the world and its people, in philosophy and psychology. But ultimately his life was devoted to the spiritual and to being of service to the Sufi Way.
Here we have an opportunity to pay our tributes to him, to revisit our memories, to offer him our gratitude and admiration, but above all, to share in the experience of profound love which he inspired.
from Pir Elias:
In Honour of Bhajan’s Wedding
You might be a little surprised
that you have won such a beauty,
noticing the hush that falls upon people
when she enters the room,
her slender feet making no sound,
her eyes as dark as night,
her gaze as bright as dawn,
how she lights a window in your chest
you didn’t know was there,
a window that swings open as she approaches,
how tears well in your eyes for being the one chosen,
her love given completely to you.
She has taken your hand and led you to the garden
where the two of you walk. You are shy,
as you sometimes are, and tell her stories
of your life before you met her.
Every scene you recall, every tender or terrible memory,
vanishes instantly in the warmth of her hand.
You look at her and can’t believe your good fortune.
She asks you if you are afraid of her
and you answer, no, how could I be? of you?
but you realize you are afraid
even though she is your heart’s desire.
It’s all right, she says, feeling your thoughts,
it’s all right to be afraid, it passes very quickly.
Even as she says that you sense what she means
and your whole body settles,
moving easily in the morning light.
I love you, you say to her, your voice beautiful.
She stops and turns to you, and raises her hand to your cheek,
her gentle fingers on your skin, and says,
my beloved, we have waited so long.
The two of you walk together now, hand in hand,
or sometimes running, teasing each other, laughing,
playing hide and seek, jumping out from behind a bush,
you grab her around the waist and suddenly come close,
breathless, your eyes steady in hers.
…..I myself hold boundless gratitude for his kindness, his support and encouragement, his deep friendship, in my heart, for always and ever.
love, Farida (Suzanne)
