The Sufi path is one of initiation and apprenticeship under a teacher, as well as a path of individual study of the Sufi teachings; the
written teachings actually make a guide necessary, not dispensable.
Sufi Order teachers undergo a rigorous and lengthy
training and mentoring before being authorized to teach by the Pir, and ongoing training and supervision is a mandatory part of the
function of a teacher in this Order. “Representatives and Guides” are authorized to initiate into the Order, give classes, and to
give and guide the spiritual practices of initiates. “Coordinators” give classes and perform other honored and valued service in
the activities of the Order. Coordinators are teachers-in-training but are not authorized to give spiritual practices or initiations. A
“Retreat Guide” is someone specially-trained in guiding the process and practices of individual and/or group Sufi spiritual
retreat. “Healing Conductors” are ordained and empowered to conduct a Healing Circle in which we offer prayers for those who have
requested healing. A “Cherag” (from the Persian word for “lamp”) is an ordained minister of the Universal Worship
Service founded by Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan.
Sufi Initiates, and also those as yet just exploring the Path, are encouraged to
connect with an authorized teacher to receive individualized guidance and instruction in the teachings and practices of the Order. If you would like to connect with a Sufi Order International teacher or activity, please contact one of the activity coordinators listed below and they will refer you appropriately.
Sufi Order International — Seattle Council
BOARD:
Manāl Dorothy Craig, President
Catherine Greene, Treasurer |
Sura Charlier, Secretary
Wajid Gallien, Trustee |
ACTIVITY CONTACT POINTS:
Spiritual Guidance and Retreats: Sura Charlier (email Sura)
Universal Worship: Michael Douglas (email Michael)
Sufi Healing Order: Ushi Darena Kathleen Burgess (email Ushi Darena)
Zira‘at: Manāl Dorothy Craig (email Manal)
Kinship: Tsukina Blessing (email Tsukina)
Interfaith Network: Wajid Gallien (email Wajid)
Seven Pillars Board: Halima Thea Levkovitz (email Thea)
OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS:
Baīss Magnusson, Fātima Besharat, Hafizullāh Chishti, Jelilah Judith Allen, Madani Tom Knowles, Mangala Judith Capili, Naquiba Farber, Nur Qalbia Catherine Stanfield, Rashid Woolwine, Yaqin Catherine Oberg.
The Council meets three times annually to coordinate activities in the Seattle area. If you’d like to attend, please contact Manāl at 206.783.0462 or via email.
Local Leaders’ Biographical Sketches
Click here for photos and biographical sketches of local teachers and others active in shaping the local Sufi Order activities.
Other Washington Contacts:
Spanaway/Tacoma/Graham: Harmony Center for Spiritual Journeys Lynda Flanagan email Lynda
Indianola (Zira‘at): Asha Kent (email Asha)
Bellingham: Khāliqa Emily Farrell (email Emily),
Sitara Suzanne Mitten-Lewis (email Sitara)
Ellensburg: Siraj Mitchell (email Siraj) and Purusha Bader (email Purusha)
Olympia: Bibijan Schaefer (email BibiJan)
Sufi Order International — Seattle
PO Box 30082
Seattle, WA 98113-2082
206.706.3717
— Ongoing Seattle-Area Classes and Gatherings —
For a graphical calendar of classes and events, click here.
Tuesdays
Sufi Teachings of Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan
Weekly class for Sufi initiates and serious seekers
The privately-circulated discourses given by Hazrat Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan to his
initiates form the foundational teachings of this Order.
Emphasizing practical application of the
teachings in daily life (e.g., emotional balance in a toxic workplace or in difficult relationships) as well as in
accelerating spiritual unfoldment, we will study discourses selected
from the Gathas, Githas, and Sangathas on
a developing theme such as “Breath” or “Mastery,” and work with practices
designed to impart a direct experience of the key principles.
Students at all levels of experience
and initiation will benefit from this class. Open to anyone initiated into Inayat Khan’s teachings
and lineage, and to non-initiates by permission of the instructor or referral from a Sufi guide.
It is our intention to send you home from each class with at least one useful tool for your own practice.
The class session closest to the Full Moon will be devoted to Zikr.
The following class dates will be Zikr nights:
- January 10th, 2012
- April 10th
- May 8th
We are currently focusing on Inayat Khan’s
teachings on “The Training of the Ego” and “The Art of Personality.” While not “psychotherapeutic”
in nature, our inquiry will aim at creating movement and spaciousness around whatever “nuggets” we encounter,
and opening to the possibilities inherent in them for our spiritual unfoldment. There will be sharing and homework for those who wish.
A light meal follows the class, with opportunity for informal discussion.
If you are not on Hafizullāh’s email list, please email him at the link below to be added.
Conducted by Hafizullāh
Time: Weekly on Tuesday evenings (A great way to start your week!)
7:30 pm–9:00 pm,
followed by a light meal.
• Please arrive a little early, to find parking and be settled when class
begins. We will not wait for latecomers who do not call ahead. •
You may wish to bring a meditation cushion or bench, as we are a little short of such things at the
moment.
Location: 14328 32nd Avenue NE, Apt C4, in Seattle’s North End.
Telephone 206.683.5721 or email Hafizullāh for further information.
Please call ahead if you are attending for the first time.
There is no fee for this class, but we will accept donations from those who wish to support this work, which
go toward refreshments and our tithe to the Order.
Hafizullāh is a senior teacher (shaikh) in the Sufi Order International,
and has walked, stumbled, crawled, and danced the Sufi path since 1976. He is active in developing
core curriculum for the Sufi Order and mentors teachers-in-training nationally. His life passion is
sharing in sacred space and spiritual practice with those who are awakening.
Wednesdays
Wednesday Night Zikr
Hosted by Sura Charlier
All are welcome to share in this offering of sacred music, sacred dance, and Zikr (Remembrance).
Musicians — we would greatly appreciate your support; please bring instruments!
Love to All,
Sura
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
18910 33rd Avenue NE,
Lake Forest Park, WA
Sura:
206.368-3881
For details, click here to view the event flyer (PDF, 1.5Mb)
Thursdays
Community of Illumination and Awakening
Meditation & Spiritual Practice,
Zikr/Poetry/Music
led by Sura Charlier
Humanity’s greatest necessity today is the exploration of the human personality
to find the latent inspiration and power, and upon this, to build the whole structure of life.
Life is not only to live, but also to ennoble oneself and reach that perfection which is the innate yearning of the soul.
: —Hazrat Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan
Community of Illumination and Awakening offers a weekly opportunity to explore the
spiritual journey in the context of sacred community space. Using practices of Sufi readings, prayer, silent and guided meditation, music, zikr, poetry,
and inquiry/sharing (individually, in pairs, and in the group), we consciously embrace the process of fanā (dissolution of false ego) and baqā
(realization/actualization of true self), embarking on a journey from the false to the Real, awakening to the divine Unity. With renewed sense of purpose,
we ground our realization in our daily lives, families, work, relationships, and greater community. All are welcome — please invite friends and join us
to feel, God/dess willing, the tuning of the soul, the light of spirit, the joy of spiritual community! Donations welcome to offset expenses.
Thursdays, 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Last class June 9th — Classes resume October 27th
18910 33rd Avenue NE,
Lake Forest Park, WA
Sura:
206.368-3881
click here for a flyer in PDF (98 KB)
Spiritual Retreat and Retreat Guides
It is our experience that private spiritual retreat is the most effective method of accelerating one’s personal transformation. One need not be an initiate to make a personal retreat; however, the breakthroughs achieved on retreat are solidified and integrated into one’s life through the personalized meditation practices which one receives from one’s guide.
The following Sufi Order teachers have been trained and are authorized to guide personal retreats.
Their bios can be found here.
— Regional Classes and Gatherings —
Tacoma/Spanaway/Graham
Harmony Center for Spiritual Journeys
We offer classes for Initiates and those interested in exploring the Sufi path.
http://www.harmonycentr.com
Contact us via email or at 253-961-3847
Bellingham
“Awakening the Heart”
An ongoing circle working with Sufi practices with breath, visualization, sound and meditation, to
deepen our experience of the Heart.
“How did the rose ever open its heart and give to this world all its beauty?
It felt the
encouragement of light against its being…”
—Hafiz
Based on the teachings and practices of universal Sufism
as taught by Hazrat Pir-o-Murshid Inayat
Khan and the Sufi Order International.
Wednesday evenings 7:30pm.
Donation requested.
Please call Khāiqa Emily Farrell
at 360-815-6445 if you are interested in attending, as we have a new location for class.
Khāliqa is available to guide retreats in a room in her home, surrounded by by cedar trees.
Facillitator: Khāiqa Emily Farrell has over 30 years experience studying meditation, spiritual practice,
and ecopsychology, and is a Representative and Retreat Guide in the Sufi Order International. She
works as a psychotherapist in private practice in Bellingham.
Indianola Center
Asha, 360.297.8578
Zira‘at Lodge,
7:30 pm, every New Moon of the month
about Ziraat.
Olympia Sufi Center
Sufi Teachings, Universal Worship, Healing Circle, and discussion.
St. John’s Episcopal Church, capitol Blvd, Olympia, every second and fourth Wednesdays at 6:30 pm
Bibijan, 360.807.2060
