The Esoteric School

The Esoteric School is one of the five concentration activities of the Sufi Order. It consists of opportunities for studying the Message of Hazrat Inayat Khan, the teachings of Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan and other relevant teachings to develop our spiritual life, deepen our personality and fulfill the purpose of our life. The Sufi Order of Rochester offers a Message Class on the first Thursday of the month. This class focuses on a selection from one of the Volumes of the Message of Spiritual Liberty, the compilation of the published teachings of Inayat Khan in 14 books. Each month, a theme will be presented in this class and followed in the other presentations. The second Thursday of the month, we offer Foundation Class. This class is an opportunity to learn and practice the spiritual exercises and approaches as taught by Inayat Khan, Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan, Pir Zia Inayat Khan and other teachers. Please check our calendar each month, as we sometimes need to make changes in the schedule. For more detail click on 'Ongoing Activities' on the Home page. We also sponsor visiting teachers offering occasional workshops and retreats. Classes may be expanded to surrounding communities according to the numbers of people interested. Occasional introductory experiences are scheduled during the year.


What Is Initiation into the Sufi Order International?

As you may be aware, the Sufi Order International, of which the Sufi Order of Rochester is a local Center, offers initiation in an esoteric school of spiritual development. In the words of its founder, Murshid Inayat Khan:

"The path of initiation is the training of the ego; it is self-discipline which is learned in the way of discipleship. Now there is a question, "What may be thought of the path of initiation? What must be our goal, what must we expect from it?" Is it that we must expect to be good or healthy, or magnetic, or powerful, or developed physically, or clairvoyant? Nothing of this need you be, although you will cultivate all those things naturally. Do not strive for these things. Suppose you develop power and you do not know its use, the outcome will be disastrous. Suppose you develop magnetism, and by this power you attract all, good and bad; then it will be difficult to get rid of what you have attracted by your power. Or you are very good, so good that everyone is bad to you, too good to live in the world; you will become a burden to yourself. These things are not to be sought by initiation. The aim is to find God within yourself: to dive deep within yourself, that you may be able to touch the unity of the Whole Being. By the power of initiation, towards this end you work, so that from within you may get all the inspiration and blessing in your life. For that two things are necessary: one thing is to do the exercises that are given to you regularly and with heart and soul; the second is that the studies that are given should not be considered only a little reading, but every word should be pondered. The more you think on it, the more it will have the effect of opening the heart. Reading is one thing, contemplating is another. The Gathas must be contemplated. Do not take even the simplest word or sentence as simple. Think of the Hindus, Chinese, and Parsis, who for thousands of years, for generations, have always contemplated the readings which they considered sacred and have never tired of them."

(Gatheka 8: The Path of Initiation -- Hazrat Inayat Khan)

Initiation in the Sufi Order is available to those wishing to enter into the process of self-discovery and spiritual development through the teachings and practices offered by the lineage of Hazrat Inayat Khan and his successors, Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan and Pir Zia Inayat Khan, along with teachers of the Sufi Order, the work of the ancient Sufis and other world teachings. The teachings of universalism and spiritual liberty brought by Inayat Khan in the early 20th century form the basis of our work. These teachings are available in a series of publications referred to as the Message Volumes and in classes open to initiates and non-initiates. Initiation is not required; why, then, might one consider taking the step of initiation? Inayat Khan defines initiation as a step forward into the unknown. One may feel an inner call to connect with this lineage of masters and saints who form the chain of transmission leading from ancient times through Inayat Khan and to the present Pir (leader of the Order), Zia Inayat Khan. This call may arise in one's heart as a resonance, a feeling that, "here is my spiritual home; this is my path." Initiation is known as Bayat, taking hand with the spiritual guide and engaging oneself in the process of awakening. The duty of the spiritual guide is to connect the initiate (mureed) to the lineage of the Order (Silsila) by invoking the great beings, masters, saints and prophets, and to provide guidance in the form of spiritual practices and orientation in the best interests of the mureed's spiritual growth. The Sufi Order authorizes Representatives and Guides for this purpose. Initiation is offered in other areas of Sufi Order activities, such as Ziraat and the Healing Order. The Universal Worship offers a Reception Ceremony for those who are inspired to make a deeper commitment to the Universal Worship. These involvements are rich and deep. The connection with the initiator in these activities is distinct from that of the spiritual guide, previously described. The Sufi Order of Rochester currently has four Representatives able to offer initiation: Inayat Jim Leff, Wadud Henry Cretella, Zaynab Kathleen FitzPatrick and Amina Linda Hall. You may speak to any one of us if you are interested in exploring initiation.

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A variety of retreats, seminars and other activities are offered in the region and nationally.

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