News

The 2015 Urs Festival of Hazrat Inayat Khan will be February 4-6 in New Delhi, India. The festival program can be found here: http://dargahsufi-inayat.org/index.php/programs

A new Hope Project Newsletter is now available and can be downloaded from: www.hope-project.de/newse.pdf.

Inspired by the Bayt al-Hikma of Baghdad, the ‘Ibadat Khana of Agra, and other historical houses of interspiritual and interdisciplinary conversation, Seven Pillars (named for Proverbs 9:1) took shape in 2008 as a gathering place for contemplatives, artists, scientists, and activists. Today, Seven Pillars announces the publication of our multi-touch ebook, “Journey Toward Wisdom.”

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-seven-pillars/id945224155?mt=11

Inspired by physicist and environmental leader Dr. Vandana Shiva, this collection of essays draw on the wisdom of ancient and modern traditions to remind readers of the profound sacredness of the seed—how in its purity, it is the source and renewal of all of life.

This weekend’s International Symposium for Contemplative Studies offered impressive testimony to the growing impact of contemplative disciplines on numerous areas of contemporary life.Some 1,700 attendees gathered to listen to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Arianna Huffington, and a number of other prominent speakers address the nature of the mind and the relevance of mindfulness to the problems and prospects of our individual and collective lives.

I would like to express my appreciation for three esteemed workers for the Sufi Message who are stepping back from their roles at this time. Nirtana Gloria Deckro has for the last three years served as Executive Director of the Sufi Order International, North America. Nirtana has supported the work of the Order with tremendous energy, inspiration and grace.

During this same period, Noorunisa Smallen has been the Abode Administrator, and has served with great dedication and conscientiousness

For nearly as long, Wahhab Sheets has held the role of Secretary General, organizing the esoteric work of the Order and supporting me as my secretary. Wahhab will be retiring at the year’s end. Wahhab has been a great support to me, and a strong and peaceful presence in the international work of the Order.

I am grateful for the service that these friends and collaborators have rendered to our Order and I wish and pray for them the very best in all that is to come. Meanwhile, our work continues, and I am happy to announce that Alia Wittman has entered the Secretariat as Interim Manager. I hope all members and friends of the Order will join me in expressing deep appreciation to Nirtana, Noorunisa, and Wahhab, and a warm welcome to Alia.

DELIGHT YOUR SENSES WITH OUR NEW SOUNDSCAPE & EBOOK

Seven Pillars House of Wisdom announces the worldwide release of an astounding new half-hour audio production, entitled The Seven Pillars Soundscape: A Contemplative Journey Toward Wisdom.

Enemy of The Reich: The Noor Inayat Khan Story, narrated by Helen Mirren and featuring Pir Zia, will air in the United States on PBS, Tuesday, September 9th at 8 pm. Details can be found here: www.upf.tv/enemy-reich-national-pbs-broadcast-september-9th/.

At the tomb of Hazrat Yusha (the prophet Joshua), peace be upon him, with members of the Istanbul circle. Credit: Sophia Aydin.

Greetings of peace to all who read this. It has been an eventful summer, beginning with gatherings in Washington and New York, continuing with retreats in Turkey and Switzerland, and leading on to the current Suluk training in Epernon, which is to be followed by meetings in Katwijk and Paris.

Today the world lost a great soul. Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi (Meshullam Zalman Hiyya HaKohen ben Hayyah Gittel) passed away peacefully at his home in Boulder, Colorado, aged 89. Reb Zalman was the founder of the Jewish Renewal Movement, the mentor of numerous rabbis, and a guiding light in the lives of innumerable souls.

Over the past year, Seven Pillars House of Wisdom has been working on a major new project: a groundbreaking multimedia electronic book entitled The Seven Pillars: Journey Toward Wisdom.

Inspired by the revolutionary illuminated manuscripts of the 5th and 6th centuries, this cutting edge, “multi-touch” eBook not only combines text and image, but also music, video and graphic animation.

The secret Strength of things

Which governs thought, and to the infinite dome

Of heaven is as a law, inhabits thee!

                          Shelley, Mont Blanc