“It’s one thing to look at the world,

and quite another thing to SEE it.”

Al-Basir means “The All-Seeing” in Arabic – a fitting name for this independent cameraman. Today we interview Basir Ted Yasi, a photojournalist and videographer for ABC and CBS among other national news services, syndicated shows and for commercial production. Having traveled and lived abroad extensively, when not filming Ted lends his energies to peacekeeping, environmental stewardship, sustainable development and de-mining projects.

Frontline, Essential Worker

Basir tells stories of world events and personal encounters that he captures as they unfold. Particularly poignant today with the relentless attacks on the freedom of the press, he describes his role as a clear-sighted witness with the responsibility to be the eyes for others.

We explore what shapes his understanding of human nature, and who he sees as the quiet heroes in life – stories that put doubt to rest and remind us of our ability to see the functioning of Spirit in Life.

From “Tourist” to Deep Practitioner

In his early years, Ted was a “tourist” of religions and spiritual traditions – until he found his home in Sufism. We ask him what changed when he became a Sufi practitioner and initiate of the Inayatiyya – an Order of Universal Sufism in the lineage of Hazrat Inayat Khan.

The world began to speak to him anew – through dreams, nature and everyday life, as his heart began to wake up to all its shades of darkness, light and joy. Describing the work of a spiritual healer, Basir shares how one can become a vehicle of change to help others tap into the healing path within themselves.

Who Are We?

… And what are we doing here? As Seekers on the Path, we have the opportunity to become vehicles of love: To quiet the ego and allow The Message to come through our hearts and manifest in the world in the actions of our lives.

Ted reveals how the outer world began to intertwine with the inner worlds. And the role breath plays in refining the Nafs – the sense of a separate self.

There is no me and you – there’s only the One.

Not for the light-hearted or the risk-adverse, once starting on the mystical journey of the heart, there is no turning back. Basir takes time to SEE, not only through the eyes but most importantly, through the Heart.