Ziraat

The Ziraat is one of the five concentration activities of the Sufi Order. It was the last concentration to be developed in Hazrat Inayat Khan's lifetime. The Ziraat is a ceremony and set of brief lessons that use the metaphors of agriculture to teach us about the deep workings of our mind. It is an initiatory path which one may join with or without initiation in the Sufi Order.

For many years, the Ziraat was held in secret, shared only with initiates. Sharifa Norton is the head of Ziraat in North America for the Sufi Order International. Please see www.ziraat.org for more information about Ziraat. While the Ziraat Papers are provided only to initiates for their study and work, interested inquirers are welcome to attend the ceremony, which is called the Ziraat Lodge.

At this time, the needs of the Earth are very great. The Ziraat activity is responding by providing a 15 minute meditation on the needs of the Earth and all her creatures, followed by the Lodge ceremony. This occurs twice a month, before Message Class and Healing Class. Please check the monthly schedule for exact times. The Ziraat Lodge is also offered in Wayne County on an occasional basis. The Sufi Order of Rochester's Ziraat activity sponsors a retreat four times during the year, corresponding with the seasons. Please see our calendar and events listings for dates.

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