Birthdate: October 29, 1947 URS March 24, 2024
One of Murshid Sam’s close mureeds, Zeinob Claire Burnham, who actually lived for a time with him and Wali Ali at the Mentorgarten, died yesterday, March 24, 2024.
YA SALAAMO!
As well as being a loyal mureed of Murshid Sam, and later initiated as a Khalifa by Pir Moineddin, she was a devoted Tibetan Dharma practitioner and Santa Cruz/Capitola, CA center leader in the Kagyu tradition. It was through her that Lama Dudjom Dorje became a regular visitor and teacher at many of the Mendocino sufi camps.
Please pray for her immediate Liberation from Samsara and auspicious transition through the Bardo period of the Tibetan tradition she followed.
Much love,
Shabda
I found a long interview on Zeinob remembering Murshid Sam in 1976… here is the link: https://www.ruhaniat.org/index.php/archive-home/shortly-after-death/2627-remembrance-by-burnham–zeinob
What and kind and gentle soul was Zeinob Burnham! She was the center leader of the Santa Cruz community for a number of years, when I was in that community in the late 1970s. We became great friends as she guided me in the most refined directions that she exemplified. The last time I saw her in person was for the 40th anniversary of Murshid SAM’s Urs, January 2011. I had flown in from Nevada to stay with Kakuli Ballinger and attend the Urs, and Zeinob drove up from Santa Cruz to join us for dinner at a lovely Thai restaurant in the East Bay area near the church where the celebration was held. We had a sublime evening of companionship and renewal with so many old friends. Blessed journey, Bhodisattva!
Zeinob Clair
What a lovely, compassionate
lady who lived in the back room
with Murshid until she had her
beloved son.
You loved!
You loved!
Dearest Friend,
Today (5.10.2024) is the day that both the Sun and Moon are in their exaltation and you are close to completing your 49 day bardo journey, which will end on Mother’s Day. I told your daughter. How very like your exquisite sense of timing all the way to the end! There is too much to say to honor a 50+ year friendship in words, the grace of what must be our mutual good karma that brought our paths together and will, no doubt, continue…
So till we meet again, Bodhisattva, our love goes with you.
Of all my teachers, Zeinob has been the most beneficial. I took initiation with her in 1975 in Santa Cruz. Her only male mureed. She gave me the name, Khaliq, (the creator). The initial practice that she gave me has shaped my life to this day.
We stayed in touch through the decades as I moved around through several states and countries. She refined my practices as needed. I visited from time to time when in California, even when she was married to Mojtaba. At that time, we went into an interview room and discussed my practice, which made Mojtaba edgy. I asked if it would be helpful if I sought guidance from Wali Ali instead. She reluctantly said, looking into her lap, “it would help.” So, I occasionally sought guidance from Wali Ali. Very pointed guidance, indeed!
Later, Zeinob guided me in Buddhist practices in the Kagyu tradition. I’ve been a member of Kagyu Changchub Chuling, in Portland, since 1998.
I visited Zeinob in 2023 and we had a powerful heart to heart. She greeted me with, “I’m old, Khaliq!” Her silk black hair was now wispy white. Her Maine Coon cats roaming, and Amenah taking care of everything. Eight days later, she had died.