The Sufi Remembrance Project

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3 Memories for “Kismet Eisenberg”

1. on 02 Apr 2011 at 6:27 pm1Melissa Clare

   Kismet lived at or close by to the Abode for many years, and for most of the time that ! knew her she was receiving dialysis regularly. I remember Pri Vilayat commiserating with her and saying he didn’t know why she had to go through this. But she always seemed to keep up her spirits. She had the most amazing light filled eyes ( with plenty of mascara, which suited her well). She loved the Cosmic Celebration and the attunements to the angelic planes. She and I used to listen to the recordings of the music from Pir Vilayat’s dramatic presentation of the Cosmic celebration together.

2. on 28 Jun 2015 at 5:48 am2Ma'at Robbins

   Kismet exemplified Sufi hospitality, often taking in to her Lenox home Friends who were in various transitions. She cared deeply about people and animals, including her beloved cat M’Boy. She maintained a delightful sense of humor throughout the physical challenges she faced.
   If, as Brother David Steindl-Rast says, ‘gratefulness is the heart of prayer’, Kismet lived a many dimensioned prayerful life.

3. on 22 May 2017 at 2:08 am3Auriella Hughes

   Dear Kismet,

   I still remember you so well. Your deep being made a deep impression on me. Thank you for your kindness and quiet strength. Thank you for helping me learn about what it is like to live with a chronic illness which is leading to a slow demise. Thank you for living your life with such grace and beauty.

   What a blessing it was to live with you in the Santa Fe Khanqah! You were part of what we called jokingly, “the sufi nunnery.”
   Actually, it wasn’t that far off, was it. We loved all those angelic realm meditations. But you also had your spunkiness!
   You cooked a mean baked fish dish when it was your dinner night. M’Boy, your beloved cat, thought so too.

   Here is some of what I remember about Kismet…

   Kismet was beautiful. And soulful. And wise beyond her years.
   She taught me what fate is, and she taught me about faith. She tried to teach me about living day to day, in the moment, because the future brings an unknown, and maybe a difficult unknown, and the now is pretty good.

   Kismet had sparkling eyes, like faceted jewels, reflecting the many facets of her soul. Her skin was dark like it was tanned by the New Mexico sun. She was small and petite, and had attractive clothing that always looked so lovely on her delicate frame.

   Kismet could look so frail, but she was tough as nails inside when it came to getting hemodialysis three times a week, by herself most of the time. I never heard her complain, not ever, except to say she felt tired. Of course she felt tired! She was dealt a really hard hand in life, since her vital chi was drained away every day from having to deal with kidney failure. (How could we understand how hard you had it when we were young, healthy and energized?)

   Sometimes it was painful to watch Kismet walk, because it was so obvious she was in pain. Sometimes I fantasized about just lifting her up and carrying her somewhere, so she wouldn’t
   have to feel that pain. But she was way too dignified for a crazy move like that, even if I was strong enough to do it, which I’m not sure I was.

   Kismet was a master at figuring out how to arrange it so she could go on travel trips and retreats, and still be able to go get her life saving hemodialysis. I remember the indwelling port in her arm. It was all bulgy looking and sometimes really black and blue. And I remember thinking,“ That looks like it really must hurt.” I remember feeling sorry for her, and then feeling bad for feeling sorry for her, because I knew she wouldn’t want anyone to feel that way.

   Kismet loved Pir Vilayat and wanted to spend any amount of time she could with him. I remember this photo she had us take of her and Pir Vilayat in the sun room at Taj’s. I loved that photo, with the beautiful, bright pink, blooming bougainvillea behind them. Pir Vilayat had a loving smile on, looking happy to accommodate her. Kismet was special to him. She had a big smile on too, happy to be next to her Pir. Kismet loved Taj Inayat and she loved Murshid too. She felt so blessed to have found her Sufi family. She loved being in the warm, sunny, enchanting desert of New Mexico. I can relate to all that.

   I am so grateful that Kismet was in my life.
   I will always love you Kismet!
   Auriella Hughes, a old khanqa-mate in Santa Fe

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