In the country you see the glory of God; in the city you glorify His name. -Bowl of Saki, Aug 14
Hello friends. We are starting a very full and rich time of Sufi activities on Zoom, especially over the next two months. There are activities almost every day, sometimes two or even three on the same day. I’d suggest you spend some time looking over the events listed on the Inayatiyya web site so you can pick the ones that seem most relavent, and fit into your schedule. Pir Zia’s Sunday classes are a main feature, and are set for seven weeks in the fall.
I’ve decided on 4 weekly classes, a little more than really fit for me, but seem possible if I skip the fantastic one-one day and three-day events. I do appreciate this amazing opportunity to learn from so many outstanding teachers. Has there ever been an opportunity like this before? No traveling thousands of miles for a little time with the sheikh.
Recently I’ve found a new way of doing wazifa, the practice of repeating sacred names and phrases. Actually I feel like I’ve been doing it wrong all these years. I used to be thinking of them as qualities, like compassion or wisdom or glory. They were Divine qualities, certainly, but my attention was on the quality. Now I’m taking the same words as names–The Compassionate One, The Wise, The Glorious. They are most often referred to as the Divine Names, putting the emphasis on the Being who is named.
The shift was touched off by phrase of the Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name.
I suddenly wondered why it was the name that was hallowed–a question that had never arisen for me before–rather than saying, for example,
Praise be the Thee, most supreme God (from the Prayer Saum), or:
Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe….
so common in Jewish blessings. Then I realized that we often talk of names in prayers, including
In the name of Allah, most merciful, most compassionate.
In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
though these are somewhat different, as if you are claiming or wishing to act on behalf of another.
So I tried a taste test, comparing a contemplation on “Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name,” to one on “Praise be to Thee, Most Supreme God.” If you try it, I’m sure you’ll feel (taste) the difference, though probably in some very different way. “Our Father, who art in heaven” — well, I know Him, from the Sistine Chapel, breathing life into Adam with a touch. “Hallowed be Thy name” refers to a being far beyond, beyond the beyond. The name is not the Being who is named. “Praise be to Thee most supreme God” is an expression of the Divine Presence, overwhelming as it is.
I’m quite sure you’ll discover something different.
Pir Vilayat has described meditating on the Divine Presence during a long retreat.
Once when on a retreat in Ajmer, the center of the Chishti Sufis in India, for forty days repeating the wazifas (Names of God), I was feeling so high, experiencing all the divine Qualities, when a murshid came to me and said, “The time has now come for you to meditate solely upon the Divine Presence.”
I said, “Here I am, meditating all the day on the Divine Attributes, it’s so rich and wonderful. Do you mean the Divine Being beyond qualities?” “Yes,” he said, “no qualities, just the Divine Presence.” “Well, I couldn’t do that,” said I, “My mind would have no patterns to weave upon.” “You’ll do it, you’ll do it,” he said.
How can I do it?” “By repeating Dhikr.” “How can just repeating Dhikr do that?” “You’ll see, you’ll see, but only on the condition that you are prepared to be completely shattered in your sense of the self, otherwise you can’t do it.”
“Yes,” I said, “That’s exactly what I’d like to do.” So I proceeded on a new retreat Solely Practicing the Dhikr. -Toward the One, p. 287
I take the Divine Presence to be something that we feel, like a sensation, in contrast to realizing that something is absent. Many times the experience of the Divine Presence makes one oblivious to their surroundings, and then we would hardly describe them as being present!
So to me that’s the significance of saying, “Hallowed be Thy Name.” It points to something beyond, beyond qualities, and that something is, or may be, the Divine Presence.
With love and blessings to you all, -Jami
Sept. Offerings on Zoom
The Inayatiyya is offering a large number of classes, starting the middle of Sept. and going through Oct., enough for two or three classes on a single day sometimes. Nov. should be more moderate. The web site has a fine list of events, so only some of the highlights are mentioned here.
You will need to look carefully at the web site to be able to choose. Many events are listed right on the homepage – inayatiyya.org
For viewing the Inayatiyya monthly calendar choose “Programs” then “Digital Programs Calendar,” then click on an event for details and, usually, the Zoom link.
For the list view, of each item one by one, choose “Programs” and then “Program Details.”
For videos of earlier classes go to “Digital” and then “Vimeo.”
For videos of Taj and Gayan look at https://newrain.info/resources and then “weekly attunements.”
Inayatiyya Featured Programs (from the Inayatiyya web site, home page and programs page)
The Whorl & the World
“A Conference of Animals”
With Pir Zia, Gulrukh Patel & Tarana Jobin
Sundays, Sept. 18 to Oct. 30, 3-4:30 PM, registration required, free or $49
The Dutch Sessions
with Shaikh-al-Mashaik Mahmood Khan and Pir Zia
Sundays, Sept. 25 & Oct 30th, 10-11:30 AM ET
on Zoom from The Netherlands, in English, free
Suluk Global info Session
Sun, Sept 25, 1:30 on Zoom
Information on the next 2 year session, starting March 1, 2023
Universal Worship Convocation
The Roslyn Center, Richmond & Online
Sept. 29th – Oct. 2nd, 2022
Journey of the Soul
Retreat with Pir Zia
Nov. 5 & 6, Berkeley, CA (not on zoom)
Cultrain & the Mysticism of Sound
A conversion with Pir Zia and others
Sat, Nov.12, noon to 1:30, on zoom, $0 to $15
Ziraat Second Friday Series
Responding to the Call of the Earth
Sept. 9 at 3, free
Hejirat Day & Noor’s Urs: A Time of Celebration
Sunday, Sept. 11, 3:00 to 4:30 pm EDT
The Divine Names
With Omid, Naima and Zumurrud
Thursdays, Sept. 22, Oct 27, Nov. 17, Dec. 15
On Zoom 2 to 3:30, by donation
Creating a Beautiful Mind
A Six-week daily practice series
with Amida and Miraj
on Zoom Mon-Fri at 11:30, $60, starting Sept. 26
Sufi Healing Service for the WorldWed, Sept. 14, and every Wed at noon, free.
New Rain Attunement with Taj & Gayan
Thurs, Sept. 15, and every Thurs, 12 to 12:30 pm, free
Followed by Q & A with mentors, 12:45 to 1:15
newrain.info/resources
Kinship Circles: Communities of Belonging
Third Fridays of the month, 3 to 4:30
On Sept. 16: “Belonging with the natural world.”
Traveling Light: A Sufi Retreat
With Amida, Yaqin and Miraj
Fri AM, Dec 9 to Dec 11, on Zoom, $0 to $150
See web site calendar
Other major events and resources:
1. Encountering Murshid: A Conversation Between Sharif Graham & Taj Inayat. Free ~ On Zoom.
Sun, Sept. 18, 1 – 3 pm EDT. newrain.info to register and get link.
2. Hazrat Inayat Khan’s Esoteric Paper Classes (Gathas and Githas). These classes for initiates are held on Zoom every other Thurs at 9-10 PM. See the Inayati online calendar for details. Free.
3. Death and Dying – Transitioning from This World to the Next, with Shahabuddin. Sat, Sept. 17, 2 to 4 PM. This session will mostly consist of spiritual practices and meditation. $30 to $60, register by email to wahhaba.phillips@tx.rr.com
4. Paths to the One, with Yaqin and Naima. Exploring the paths of Creativity, Beauty, Love, Infinitude, Unity, and Illumination. Six Tuesdays starting Oct. 4, from 10 to 11:15. By donation. Paths-fo-the-one.eventbee.com
5. Diving Into Life, An Inner Guidance Group. For Seekers under 50, Led by Gayan. Next retreat: Oct. 28-30, on Zoom, cost $150 to $225.
6. New Rain Online, a monthly class with Taj and Gayan on Saturdays. If you join the class you get hints twice a week and also access to the last five years of classes. Cost is $29 a month. Newrain.info
7. Himayat has weekly online meditations (free) and also three month long online courses on Sufi subjects. The weekly meditations are recorded audio and available all week and beyond. Universal-awakening.org and then go to “The Meeting Place” for the weekly meditations or to “Online Classes” for the courses. The current course is “Divine Love,” based on ancient Sufis, which started Sept. 3.
8. The Ruhaniat offers various recorded courses online. See Ruhaniat.org Here are a few of them:
~~Pir Shabda: “The Mystical Power of Sufi Breathwork, Mantra and Sacred Sound”
~~Murshid Wali Ali:
“God is Breath” Series
“A Journey Through the Ninety-Nine Names of Allah,” using the book Physicians of the Heart.
~~A zoom course, of 3 Sunday sessions, is offered in Sept, called “River of Guidance.” 1 PM EDT
~~God is Breath: Cultivating a Loving Relationship with the God Reality, with Sheikh Muiz Brinkerhoff.
9. Sufi Message Classes from the Sufi Movement USA, monthly for 1 1/2 hours, by Murshida Nuria Sabato in Florida. sufi-message.org
10. The new Inayatiyya Inner School web site gives details about the school for the Sufi path toward self-realization. Found from the home page, under About ~ Seven Activities.
11.The Message Volumes of Hazrat Inayat Khan are all online, and searchable. See www.wahiduddin.net and go to Spiritual Message of Hazrat Inayat Khan. At this site you can also sign up to receive wonderful daily quotes from the Bowl of Saki, emailed with helpful longer passages.
12. Audio recordings of Pir Vilayat are available for streaming for free at www.pirvilayatlegacy.net An easy way to hear some of his very best talks and meditations, and nicely organized. Other recordings are on pirvilayatcenter.org and those include transcripts to read as you listen.
13. Retreats and classes by other Sufi and related teachers:
a) Talks by Shahabuddin are available for free on Livestream (search for Rising Tide International).
b) Joy of Movement – ongoing weekly classes with Zuleikha Storydancer, zuleikha.com
14. YouTube has many talks, including talks by Pir Zia and meditations by Pir Vilayat.
15. Tara Brach, of the Insight Meditation Community of Washington, DC, has countless meditations, talks and courses online, on Radical Compassion and every other subject, at tarabrach.com. By donation.assion in These Challenging Times
(see item 2 above)
6. Sufi Message Classes from the Sufi Movement USA, monthly on Sat. at noon for 1 1/2 hours, by Murshida Nuria Sabato in Florida. sufi-message.org
7. The new Inayatiyya Inner School web site gives details about the school for the Sufi path toward self-realization. Found from the home page, under About ~ Seven Activities.
8.The Message Volumes of Hazrat Inayat Khan are all online, and searchable. See www.wahiduddin.net and go to Spiritual Message of Hazrat Inayat Khan. At this site you can also sign up to receive wonderful daily quotes from the Bowl of Saki, emailed with helpful longer passages.
9. Audio recordings of Pir Vilayat are available for streaming for free at www.pirvilayatlegacy.net An easy way to hear some of his very best talks and meditations, and nicely organized. Other recordings are on pirvilayatcenter.org and those include transcripts to read as you listen.
10. Retreats and classes by other Sufi and related teachers:
a) Talks by Shahabuddin are available for free on Livestream (search for Rising Tide International).
b) Joy of Movement – ongoing weekly classes with Zuleikha Storydancer, zuleikha.com
11. YouTube has many talks, including talks by Pir Zia and meditations by Pir Vilayat.
12. Tara Brach, of the Insight Meditation Community of Washington, DC, has countless meditations, talks and courses online, on Radical Compassion and every other subject, at tarabrach.com. By donation.
Local Calendar
Thurs, June 2 – [Baltimore and Zoom] – Ziraat and Healing Class, 7 PM, first Thurs of the month. mumtaz.kammerer@yahoo.com
Sun, June 5 – [Silver Spring live & on Zoom] Deep Listening Circle: Music, Poetry, Meditation. On zoom and also in person! If you are vaccinated and healthy: “Welcome! You are invited to come – in person – to the OneCircle Center at 3804 Littleton Street, Silver Spring, MD for our Deep Listening Circle. We will be happy to see all of you! 11 AM to about 12 noon.
“We have been gathering in our circle every single month since 1996 and each month we respond to a theme. The theme for June is ‘A Circle of One.’ Please take the opportunity to be an active part in the Circle and contribute a creative offering based on our theme.” -Love, Stream Ohrstrom, Tania Gerich, Gloria Kozel. 1onecircle1@gmail.com facebook.com/onecircle Go to Facebook for zoom link.
Tues, June 7 – [DC area and online] Class at the Baraka Center in Takoma Park, MD, 7 – 8 pm, usually every 1st and 3rd Mon. Led by Raqib and Rafia. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7612262808 barakacenterdc.org gwellock@verizon.net or Baraka Center DC on Facebook
Thurs, June 9 – Weekly New Rain Attunement with Taj and Gayan at noon for half an hour. Every Thursday, free. See Home page or newrain.info/resources
Thurs, June 9 – [Charlottesville and online] Universal Sufism: Explore the Spiritual Path of the Heart. Every Thurs at 7:00 to 8:30 pm. This week’s topic is Tolerance. rabiapovich@gmail.com
Sun, June 12 – [Zoom from Takoma Park] Sunday Healing Service at 10:30 AM, usually held weekly at 11:00. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7612262808
barakacenterdc.org gwellock@verizon.net
Sun, June 12 – [Balt and online] Universal Worship in Baltimore, on zoom. Monthly on the 2nd Sunday, 11 am EDT. Celebrate the world’s religious traditions in a beautiful worship service. mumtaz.kammerer@yahoo.com
Fri, June 17 – Urs of Pir Vilayat, the anniversary of his death in 2004.
Sun, June 19 – Birthday of Pir Vilayat. At the Abode in NY State, a celebration includes Universal Worship and brunch IRL (in real life). Hopefully to be on zoom.
Mon, June 20 – [DC area and online] Class at the Baraka Center on Zoom and in Takoma Park, MD, 7 – 8 pm, every 1st and 3rd Mon. Led by Raqib and Rafia. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7612262808 barakacenterdc.org gwellock@verizon.net or Baraka Center DC on Facebook.
Future
Individual Transformational Retreats Available – [Charlottesville] “The corona virus has invited us to spend more time alone. Have you taken time to be alone with the Alone? When we take time and create an intention for a retreat, we are invited to release the stress and weight of our worldly interactions, move at our own pace, and delve deeply into our inner life. Retreats from 2 – 6 days available in comfortable private space. Contact Rabia Povich, certified Inayatiyya retreat guide, for more information.” Rabiapovich@gmail.com
July 2 to 10 – Suresnes Sufi Summer School – See major events, above.
Sun, July 3 – [DC, Zoom] Deep Listening Circle: Music, Poetry, Meditation. Interactive in person/Zoom event at 11 AM. 1onecircle1@gmail.com See June 5, above.
Sun, July 3 – Sharif Graham and Taj on Hazrat Inayat Khan. 1-3 PM EDT, free. See major events, above.
Tues, July 5 – Birthday of Hazrat Inayat Khan, in 1882.
Sept. 2-5, Fri eve to Mon noon – Labor Day Retreat w/ Pir Zia. Charles Town, WV, with housing; 1.5 hours from DC. Full details on Web site Home page; no zoom.
Regular Classes
Takoma Park, MD – The Baraka Center. Classes are held online 1st and 3rd Mondays, 7-8 PM on Zoom. Classes explore the Sufi teachings of Hazrat Inayat Khan, Pir Vilayat Khan, and the current teachings of Pir Zia Inayat Khan. Led by Raqib and Rafia. For more details: Jamila, gwellock@verizon.net or see Baraka Center DC on Facebook.
Baltimore
Universal Worship, 2nd Sun, 11 AM on Zoom.
Ziraat and Spiritual Healing class, 1st Thurs, 7 PM. mumtaz.kammerer@yahoo.com
Charlottesville, VA: Blue Ridge Sufi Community
rabiapovich@gmail.com or ron.povich@gmail.com
Classes Thurs 7-8:30, on zoom.
Individual retreats offered, see July 1 above, contact Rabia
Philadelphia: Sufi Order of the Greater Delaware Valley
Sufi Teachings, a class on Zoom with Telema, every Sun. at 7 pm
https://philadelphiasufi.org telema@verizon.net
Scranton & Allentown, PA
Weekly Githa Class Mondays at 7:30 on zoom
Contact Fattah! at frenz2cathy17@ahealingplaceonline.com
Richmond: The Astana, astana@inayatiyya.org, 518-794-7834, Headquarters of the Inayatiyya.
See inayatiyya.org ~ programs ~ digital programs calendar, or on the Homepage.
Address of The Astana, Headquarters of the Inayatiyya: 112 E. Cary St., Richmond, VA 23219, 518-794-7834
astana@inayatiyya.org www.inayatiyya.org |
Local Calendar [Note: For all the national events, more information can be found on the inayatiyya.orgweb site, using the digital calendar.] Sun, Oct. 3 –[Zoom fromTakoma Park] Sunday Healing Service at 10:30 and Universal Worship Service at 11 AM. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7612262808 barakacenterdc.org gwellock@verizon.net Sun, Oct. 3 – [Silver Spring live & on Zoom] Deep Listening Circle: Music, Poetry, Meditation. On zoom and also in person! If you are vaccinated and healthy: “Welcome! You are invited to come – in person – to the OneCircle Center at 3804 Littleton Street, Silver Spring, MD for our Deep Listening Circle. We will be happy to see all of you! 11 AM to about 12 noon. We have been gathering in our circle every single month since 1996 and each month we respond to a theme. The theme for October is ‘Heart of Service.’ Please take the opportunity to be an active part in the Circle and contribute a creative offering based on our theme.” -Love, Stream Ohrstrom, Tania Gerich, Gloria Kozel. 1onecircle1@gmail.com facebook.com/onecircle Go to Facebook for zoom link. Popular OneCircle House Concerts (begun in 2004) are back!! You are invited to an in-person concert with world class musicians Ronn McFarlane (lute) & Carolyn Surrick (viola da gamba). Sat, Oct. 16 at 7:30 PM. www.RonnMcFarlane.com Sun, Oct. 3 – [Zoom from RVA] Sufi Teachings class with Pir Zia at 3-4:30. These weekly classes are key teachings, not to be missed, and are a great way to keep up with Bawa’s latest teachings. This week continues six months on Nature Meditations: Hazrat Inayat Khan’s Ensouled Cosmology. See Inayatiyya Home page. These talks are free, and stay online to be available afterwards.To the eye of the seer every leaf of the tree is a page of the holy book that contains divine revelation. – Hazrat Inayat Khan Mon, Oct. 4 – [DC area and online] Class at the Baraka Center in Takoma Park, MD, 7 – 8 pm, every 1st and 3rd Mon. Led by Raqib and Rafia. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7612262808 barakacenterdc.org gwellock@verizon.net or Baraka Center DC on Facebook or Thurs, Oct. 7 – [Baltimore and Zoom] – Ziraat and Healing Class, 7 PM, first Thurs of the month. mumtaz.kammerer@yahoo.com Thurs, Oct. 7 – Weekly attunement with Taj and Gayan at noon for half an hour. Every Thursday, free. See Home page or newrain.info/resources Thurs, Oct. 7 – [Charlottesville and online] Universal Sufism: Explore the Spiritual Path of the Heart. Every Thurs at 7:00 to 8:30 pm. This semester topics are from the Gatha series on the subject of Metaphysics (Tassawuf). rabiapovich@gmail.com Sun, Oct. 10 – [Balt and online] Universal Worship in Baltimore, on zoom. Monthly on the 2nd Sunday, 11 am. The theme for Oct. is Peace. Celebrate the world’s religious traditions in a beautiful worship service. mumtaz.kammerer@yahoo.com
Sun, Oct. 10 – [RVA and Zoom] Sufi Teachings class with Pir Zia at 3-4:30 weekly. Preceded by Sama at 1:30.
Sun, Oct. 10 – [DC and Zoom] Dhikr in the lineage of the Nur-Ashki Jerrahi. 8-9 PM. Also on Oct. 24 (2nd and 4th Sundays). ellen.wertheimer@gmail.com
Fri, Oct. 15 – Kinship Circle: The Intersection of Love and Justice, with Omid Safi. 3-4:30 PM. kinship@inayatiyya.org See Web site.
Sun, Oct. 17 – [RVA and Zoom] Sufi Teachings class with Pir Zia at 3-4:30. Preceded by Inayatiyya Global Meditations at 1:30.
Fri, Oct. 22 – Inayatiyya Virtual Khanqah, monthly, 2-3:30 PM Sat, Oct. 23 – Kinship Tea. “All are welcome to this offering, an opportunity to meet and commune with each other, and to enhance camaraderie within the wider community. Bring your tea or coffee and connect.” 12 to 1:15 PM on Zoom. kinship@inayatiyya.org See Web site. Sun, Oct. 24 – Zikr with Zuleikha at 1:30. 4th Sundays. Sun, Oct. 24 – [RVA and Zoom] Sufi Teachings class with Pir Zia at 3-4:30 weekly. Preceded by Zikr with Zuleikha at 1:30. Sat, Oct. 30 – That which transpires behind that which appears. Retreat practices of Pir Vilayat, led by Devi. “Boundless States, Planes of Being, Stages of Samadhi, Working with Light.” 12 to 3; $50 Sun, Oct. 31 – [RVA and Zoom] Sufi Teachings class with Pir Zia at 3-4:30 weekly. Future Individual Transformational Retreats Available – [Charlottesville] “The corona virus has invited us to spend more time alone. Have you taken time to be alone with the Alone? When we take time and create an intention for a retreat, we are invited to release the stress and weight of our worldly interactions, move at our own pace, and delve deeply into our inner life. Retreats from 2 – 6 days available in comfortable private space. Contact Rabia Povich, certified Inayatiyya retreat guide, for more information.” Rabiapovich@gmail.com
Mon, Nov. 1 – [DC area and online] Class at the Baraka Center in Takoma Park, MD, 7 – 8 pm, every 1st and 3rd Mon. Led by Raqib and Rafia. For more details: Jamila gwellock@verizon.net or see Baraka Center DC on Facebook.
Sun, Nov. 7 – [DC, Zoom] Deep Listening Circle: Music, Poetry, Meditation. Interactive in person/Zoom event at 11 AM. 1onecircle1@gmail.com See Oct. 3, above., Sun, Nov. 7 – [RVA and Zoom] Sufi Teachings class with Pir Zia at 3-4:30. Thurs to Sat, Nov. 11 to 13 – [Zoom] Gleaning the Harvest: An Autumn Retreat. Three days, led by Amida Cary, 11 AM to 7:15 pm daily, $150 to $225 sliding. Nov. 20 & 21 – Love Human and Divine. Retreat with Pir Zia, hosted by Inayatiyya UK. 6 AM to 12:30 PM EST, cost £150
Regular Classes
Takoma Park, MD – The Baraka Center. Classes are held online 1st and 3rd Mondays, 7-8 PM on Zoom. Classes explore the Sufi teachings of Hazrat Inayat Khan, Pir Vilayat Khan, and the current teachings of Pir Zia Inayat Khan. Led by Raqib and Rafia. For more details: Jamila, gwellock@verizon.net or see Baraka Center DC in Facebook. BaltimoreUniversal Worship, 2nd Sun, 11 AM on Zoom. Ziraat and Spiritual Healing class, 1st Thurs, 7 PM. mumtaz.kammerer@yahoo.com Charlottesville, VA: Blue Ridge Sufi Communityrabiapovich@gmail.com or ron.povich@gmail.comUniversal Sufism, every Thurs 7-8:30, on zoom.Individual retreats offered, see Nov. 1 above, contact Rabia
Philadelphia: Sufi Order of the Greater Delaware Valley
Sufi Teachings, a class on Zoom with Telema, every Sun. at 7 pmtelema@verizon.net
Richmond: The Astana, astana@inayatiyya.org, 518-794-7834, Headquarters of the Inayatiyya. ~Sufi Teachings, every Sun. at 3, with Pir Zia ~2nd Sun. Sema, with Zikr and music, at 1:30
~Weekly Sufi Healing Service for the World, Wed. at noon ~Kinship Third Friday Gatherings, 3 to 4:30 PM. ~Haywanat, Monthly Young Adults gathering, third Fri. at 3. See inayatiyya.org ~ programs ~ digital programs calendar, or on the Home page.
Address of The Astana, Headquarters of the Inayatiyya: 112 E. Cary St., Richmond, VA 23219, 518-794-7834
astana@inayatiyya.org www.inayatiyya.org |
Baraka Center 