Just like tuning the strings of a violin to a note struck on the piano, concentrating on an “ideal being” has the effect of harmonizing that within us which has fallen out of tune with the Divine perspective. Getting in the consciousness of highly attuned beings will trigger off a kind of resonance in us…
Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan
Strike the Same Chord
Topic: Self-Cultivation & Health
“Especially today, it is often the case that trustworthy and experienced spiritual guides are difficult to find. Yet the Sufis have a longstanding practice that provides an antidote to this modern dilemma: turning to humankind’s great masters, saints, or prophets such as Moses, Krishna, Jesus, Kuan Yin, Zoroaster, Melchizedek, Muhammad, and others. They form a hierarchy of mystical transmission reaching into the very highest levels of realization announcing the spiritual dimension of our day and age and indeed future spirituality…. Just like tuning the strings of a violin to a note struck on the piano, concentrating on an “ideal being” has the effect of harmonizing that within us which has fallen out of tune with the Divine perspective. While our own spiritual dimension may be latent within us, that of certain great souls is vibrantly awakened. Getting in the consciousness of highly attuned beings will trigger off a kind of resonance in us — just as two harps tuned to the same pitch will strike the same chord.”
Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan, born in 1916 in London, was the son of Hazrat Inayat Khan, a notable Sufi mystic who established the Sufi Order International. Raised in France, Pir Vilayat was immersed in both Eastern and Western cultures from a young age. He pursued his education at the prestigious Sorbonne University in Paris, studying psychology and philosophy, and furthered his studies at Oxford University. His artistic inclination led him to study musical composition and cello at the Ecole Normale de Musique in Paris, showcasing his diverse interests and talents.
After serving in the British Royal Navy during World War II, Pir Vilayat embarked on a spiritual quest, traveling extensively in India and the Middle East. His journey enriched his understanding of various religious traditions, culminating in his initiation into the Chishti Sufi Order of India. As a Pir, or spiritual teacher, he returned to the West in the 1950s, where he began disseminating a universal approach to spirituality. His teachings were grounded in meditation and inner exploration, drawing from the wisdom of various religious traditions to create an inclusive, globally relevant spiritual path.
Pir Vilayat’s contributions extended beyond spiritual teaching. A prolific author, he penned over 30 books on Sufism and spirituality, including notable works like "The Essence of Sufism" and "The Way of Illumination." His eloquence as a speaker and lecturer took him around the world, advocating for interfaith dialogue and the integration of diverse religious insights. His work in transpersonal psychology revealed his belief in the potential of psychology to aid in spiritual growth. Pir Vilayat's passing in 2004 marked the end of an era, but his legacy as a bridge between Eastern and Western spiritual traditions continues to inspire. His teachings offer timeless wisdom, guiding people towards inner peace and spiritual transformation, irrespective of their cultural or religious backgrounds.
Ours Is a Way of Light
Khan, Pir Vilayat Inayat. Awakening: a Sufi Experience. J.P. Tarcher/Putnam, 2000. [Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan, Ours is a Way of Light].
Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan
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Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan, Ours is a Way of Light
Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan
Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan was born in London in 1916. His father, Hazrat Inayat Khan, left India in 1910, established the Sufi Order in London in 1916, and incorporated the Sufi Movement in Geneva in 1923. Pir Vilayat graduated from Sorbonne University in Paris in 1940 after completing studies in both psychology and philosophy. He pursued postgraduate studies at Oxford University as well as studying musical composition and cello at the Ecole Normale de Musique in Paris.
Hazrat Inayat Khan designated Pir Vilayat as his successor in 1926. After World War II, during which he served in the British Royal Navy, Pir Vilayat pursued his spiritual training by studying with many different religious traditions throughout India and the Middle East. He is an acknowledged Pir in the lineage of the Chishti Sufi Order of India. Through the Sufi Order International, Pir Vilayat offered a universal approach to spiritual development. During meditation retreats, lectures and seminars, he reflected upon the ancient stream of wisdom inherent in all religions and humanistic philosophies. He was active in the multifaith movement and was instrumental in bringing together leaders from different religions to explore their underlying unity and mutual interests.
–By Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat [Remembering Spiritual Masters Project – Spirituality and Practice website]
Additional Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan Quotes
“Contemplating the universe in its boundless spectrum of archetypes is the basis of the Sufi practice of invoking the names of God. Glorifying and exulting God’s attributes through our prayers and concentrations arouses those very qualities in ourselves — in other words our attunement shapes our being.”
–Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan [Awakening: A Sufi Experience: Ours Is a Way of Light].
“Training oneself to see things from the Divine point of view is key to understanding the essence of Sufism: it is the ‘global compass’ that offsets the personal vantage point, the ‘true north’ orienting one’s direction in life. This is why the Sufis aim at downplaying their personal view in order to espy the Divine point of view.”
–Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan [Awakening: A Sufi Experience: Ours Is a Way of Light].
“As ours is a way of light, the work we do as followers of the path of Sufism is to help others become conscious that they are beings of light. Just like a potter works with clay to shape a pot, work with light practices helps individuals become more luminous and radiant. Becoming more skilled in the art of illumination catalyzes transformation. How would the world be different if, for example, all of us were to reclaim our inheritance as members in a “tribe of light” who vow to bring enlightenment to all creation.”
–Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan [Awakening: A Sufi Experience: Ours Is a Way of Light].