Jun
22
2020
22 June 2020
Dear Companions on the Path,
“Cast the light from your eyes on a star. In light-years of time, the star receives your light,” said my father. Just imagine: our glances, gestures, and ideas reverberate far out into the horizons of time and space, forming an immense moving sculpture of consciousness in action. What is more, if one pours one’s acts into the service of a cause greater than oneself, one’s emanations unfurl themselves not merely in isolation, but rather as a strain within a vaster interwoven music. The purpose of the Inayatiyya is to join our lives in the elaboration of a planetwide hymn to the One echoing through the starry sky.
Our community has been intensely active and connected in recent weeks. Conversations that previously occurred more often in the margins have moved to the center. “Unity is not uniformity,” my father used to say. How can we be ourselves—as national communities, as religious communities, as racial and ethnic communities, and as individuals—and at the same time spiritually and strategically unite our lives profoundly in the Great Work of the remembrance of God and the service of humanity and the Earth? That is our task.
Soon we will gather for our annual North American Summer School, Season of the Rose. Season of the Rose will be online, and therefore abbreviated this year, but still a splendid opportunity to meet and attune together. I look forward to seeing you there.
After Season of the Rose, I propose that we all take a quiet week. This will be a time to digest all that has happened since our lives changed in March. It’s an opportunity to step away from computer screens as much as possible. Many of us will of course still have work and family obligations, but in our free hours we might take the chance to spend more time walking, exercising, gardening, cooking, reading, writing, praying, meditating, or playing with children or animal companions. “The essence of today’s message is balance.” It will be a time to come back to our senses and feel our feet on the ground. May it be love, light, and life.
During the quiet week the Astana will be closed and our online offerings on hold.* We will come together again on Viladat Day (Murshid’s birthday), July 5th, during our regular Sunday class time, joining in celebration.
Yours ever,
Pir Zia
*Nigel Hamilton’s valuable leadership training program, July 2-7, will go on as scheduled. Please contact Karima for details at sufiorderuk@gmail.com.
Season of the Rose Online
June 26-28, 2020
As all things this year, Season of the Rose 2020 is moving to Zoom! Join us for one, two, or three days of gatherings that reunite and inspire us as we live in the unusual present, contemplate an unknown future, and reunite in shared community.
Day 1: Suluk Reunion, Day 2: Inayatiyya Leaders, Day 3: Intro to the Inayatiyya
Hazrat Inayat Khan’s 138th Birthday Celebration
July 5th, 2020 at 3 pm EDT
All are cordially invited to join the Inayat Khan family in celebrating Pir-o-Murshid Hazrat Inayat Khan’s 138th Birthday. We will gather for this special occasion during our weekly Sunday afternoon class time at 3 pm EDT.
Zenith Summer Camp
“The Universe is a Phenomenon of Love”
July 17th – August 9th, 2020
From July 17th – August 9th 2020 we will be offering a mix of online seminars, daily meditations and evening programmes, as well as online group and individual retreats with some of our favorite teachers and guides.
Nirtan Commentary
Music of the Spheres: Gamaka Commentaries, Nirtan
“Why, oh my feeling heart do you live and die?
What makes my feeling heart now to laugh and to cry?
Death is my life indeed, I live when I die.
Pain is my pleasure, when I laugh then I cry.”
The sage speaks to his heart. Who planted you in my breast? What a strange amphibian you are—half angel, half animal, and all paradox! Read More
See the full commentary on the Inayatiyya website.
Remember that all digital programs may be found on our Inayatiyya Digital Programs Calendar.
The Zephyr is a monthly newsletter of The Inayatiyya, an interfaith mystical fellowship with branches worldwide. For more information on our activities, please visit inayatiyya.org.