| West. The founder of the Sufi Order of the West was Hazrat Pir-O-Murshid Inayat Khan (1882 1927), a musician known for his accomplishments in classical Indian music, and a mystic. He was nominated by Hazrat Abu Hashim Madani, successor in line to Khwaja Muinnuddin Chishti, as his successor and was assigned the task of bringing Sufism to the West. He first traveled to the United States and to Europe in 1910, gathering disciples and forming centers. He resided near Paris and continued to teach and lead the order until his death. His son succeeded him and continues to guide the work. BASIC BELIEFS: The object of the Sufi Order is: (1) To realize the knowledge of unity, the religion of love and wisdom, so that the bias of faiths and beliefs may of itself fall away, the human heart may overflow with love, and all hatred caused by distinctions and differences may be rooted out. (2) To discover the light and power latent in man, the secret of all religion, the power of mysticism, and the essence of philosophy, without interfering with customs or belief. (3) To help bring the world's two opposite poles, East and West, closer together by the interchange of thought and ideals, that Universal Brotherhood may form of itself, and man may see with man beyond narrow national and racial boundaries. To that end, the Sufi Order teaches: |
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| Black Rose Spiritual Center, Inc : Belief Systems |
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| The Sufi Order |
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| ADDRESS: Box 574 Lebanon Springs, NY 12114 OTHER NAMES BY WHICH KNOWN: The Sufi Order in the West. LEADERSHIP: Present head of the Sufi Order is Pir Vilayat Khan, son of the founder of the Order, Hazrat Inayat Khan. MEMBERSHIP: Not reported. HISTORICAL ORIGIN: The Sufi Order is an esoteric school which has grown through the centuries out of a meeting and blending of several religious traditions. Sufism can be traced to mystical tendencies within the first generation of Islam (the religious heritage in which it has grown), but can also be traced to the teachings of the Zoroastrian Magi communicated to the early esotericists of Islam and to the great Mystic Suhrawardi and his philosophy of illumination. Sufism developed mainly in Persia and Arabia where it found an alliance with the Hellenic philosophy of Avicenna. The contact with the Syrian monks (Christians) accounts for the origin of the term Sufi from "suf" (wool), the dress of the hermits. Through the years, various mystic traditions Buddhism, Vedanta, and Spanish mysticism added their richness to Sufism. In India, Vedanta and Sufism came together in the work of Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti, founder of the Order that bears his name. The Chishti Order has since the thirteenth century seen Sufism's mission to cohere religions finally into unity. The Sufi Order represents a transplanting of the Chishti Order to the |
| (1) There is One god, the Eternal, the Only Being; none else exists save God. (2) There is one Guiding Spirit of all Souls, who constantly leads seekers toward the light. (3) There is one Holy Book, the sacred manuscript of nature, the only scripture which can enlighten the reader. (4) There is one Religion, the unswerving progress in the right direction toward the ideal, which fulfills the life's purpose of every soul. (5) There is one Law, the law of reciprocity, which can be observed by a selfless conscience together with a sense of awakened justice. (6) There is one human family which unites the children of earth indiscriminately in the Parenthood of god. (7) There is one Moral Principle, the love which springs forth from self denial, and blooms in deeds of beneficence. (8) There is one Object of Praise, the beauty which uplifts the heart of its worshiper through all aspects from the seen to the unseen. (9) There is one Truth, the true knowledge of our being within and without, which is the essence of all wisdom. (10) There is one Path, the annihilation of the false ego in the real, which raises the mortal to immortality and in which resides all perfection. |
| The Sufi Order does not have a Bible as such, but uses the inspiration that shines through all sacred writings. The teachings of the founder are found in his multi-volume collected works, the Sufi Message. PRACTICES AND BEHAVIORAL STANDARDS: (See "Basic Beliefs," especially numbers 5 to 7 of what "the Sufi Order teaches.") ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE: The Sufi Order is built around a number of local centers, each headed by a leader appointed by Pir Vilayat Khan, the head of the Order. The center at New Lebanon also functions as the headquarters in the United States. ROLE OF MINISTERS: Local leaders coordinate the activities of the local center, holding meetings to train initiates and conducting universal worship services. Most leaders are cherags, or ministers, but not all cherags are local leaders. WORSHIP: There is no mandated worship requirement, though most Sufis meditate regularly. Each center offers a weekly Universal Worship Service as well as regular classes in meditation, spiritual dance, and Sufism. Spiritual dance, popularly known as "Sufi" dancing, is the earmark of Sufism. Candles constitute the minimum equipment for worship. Members also meet regularly with a local leader or initiator. Because of the universal nature of the Sufi perspective, all holidays of all major faiths tend to be celebrated, but, within the Order, the anniversary of the death of the founder, February 5, is especially noted. DIETARY LAWS OR RESTRICTIONS: None. FUNERAL AND BURIAL REQUIREMENTS: None. MEDICAL TREATMENT: No restrictions. OTHER: The Order takes no position on service in the Armed Forces. GENERAL SOURCE BOOKS: Kahn, Hazrat Inayat. The Sufi Message and the Sufi Movement. London: Barrie & Rockliff, 1964. 47pp. Khan, Vilayat Inayat. The Message in Our Time. New York: Harper & Row, 1978. 442pp. _________, ed. The Sufi Message of Hazrat Inayat Khan. 12 vols. London: Barrie & Jenkins, 196 69. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Sufi Order in the West Box 574 Lebanon Springs, NY 12114 |
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