As we go on day by day, we may wonder, "What is the purpose of my life?" When I was in my twenties, and teaching Religious Studies at Lewis and Clark College, I was asked to teach "Introduction to Religion." But this was a boring course. And it was the 1970s. So many spiritual teachings, meditation … [Read more...] about What is the purpose of my life?
Am I seizing the opportunity of my life?
"And what is life? Life is an opportunity. To the optimistic person the opportunity is a promise, and for the pessimistic person this opportunity is lost. It is not that the Creator makes one lose it, but it is the person who withdraws him or herself from the possibility of seizing the opportunity." … [Read more...] about Am I seizing the opportunity of my life?
Urs of Hazrat Inayat Khan, Message from Murshid Hidayat Inayat Khan
International Headquarters of the Sufi Movement Visalat day 2015 Beloved Sufi Brothers and Sisters, Today, we have the privilege of gathering together in homage to the sacred memory of our Master, the Murshid of us all, whose guidance is always there, in as much as we are able to attune to that … [Read more...] about Urs of Hazrat Inayat Khan, Message from Murshid Hidayat Inayat Khan
Universal Sufism
Every day on the news we can hear terrible things that people are doing to each other in the name of religion. But this is not real religion, not real spirituality. This is fanaticism and fundamentalism wearing a mask of religion. Fanaticism does not belong to one religion. I heard today about … [Read more...] about Universal Sufism
Our Sacred Task
Murshid Hazrat Inayat Khan identifies the purpose of the Sufi Message, which is an eternal Message expressed in many different languages and traditions, in two ways. He says that our Sacred Task in our current world is to develop the spirit of tolerance. This is important in the world as we try to … [Read more...] about Our Sacred Task
Anchor Yourself in God
Recently I read about a woman named Antoinette Tuff. She worked at a school in Georgia; and, on August 23, 2013 she stopped a man who walked into the school with an AK-47. She talked him into laying down his gun and surrendering. No one was hurt. She said that her pastor was teaching a practice of … [Read more...] about Anchor Yourself in God
Tuning
"The Teacher, however great, can never give his or her knowledge to the pupil; the pupil must create his or her own knowledge." Bowl of Saki, September 19, by Hazrat Inayat Khan Commentary by Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan: "The work of a mystical Teacher is not to teach, but to … [Read more...] about Tuning
Who is My Enemy?
Murshid writes: The awakened soul looks about and asks: 'Who is my enemy?' While the unawakened soul thinks that it is one's neighbor or one's relation who is one's enemy, the awakened soul says, 'It is my self; my ignorant ego is my enemy; and it is the struggle with this enemy that will bring me … [Read more...] about Who is My Enemy?