Living Sufism 2026 ~ 2027
"If you only travel on known roads you'll only arrive at known places.” ~Sufi Poet
We live in a time of extraordinary opportunities and bewildering challenges. How do we meet both the Rose and the Thorn of our daily experiences with wisdom and equanimity? Each of us must find our own way. This year’s Living Sufism program will offer a series of experiential encounters illuminating five gateways of Sufi practice. Our aim is to deepen our abilities to engage with whatever shows up in our everyday lives more creatively, effectively and harmoniously. This is what is meant by living Sufism.
Program Overview
The Rose and the Thorn is Inspired by Hazrat Inayat Khan’s five portals of engagement as described throughout The Sufi Message. Using contemporary language, we’re calling these portals the ways of: wholeness, compassion, action, worship and mysticism. These gateways also serve as activation points for the development of the spirit of aliveness that Pir Elias is now emphasizing in our ongoing work together.
The Way of Wholeness (Shafi)
The Sufi phrase, “ya Shafi”, is a divine name used to invoke the healing energies of The One. In our time we have come to understand that achieving wholeness is no longer just a matter of personal physical and mental well-being. We can be in the service of healing our environment, our societies, our family circles, our relationships.
The Way of Compassion (Ishq)
Ishq is an Arabic word meaning love that goes far beyond everyday affection. Profound and intense, this is the love that we hope to experience with and in the divine Beloved. Yet it is also the flame of compassion that can warm, illuminate and guide our interactions with all living beings.
The Way of Action (Qadir)
Al Qadir is also one of the divine names meaning something like, “The One who can do anything”. Calling on this attribute reminds us that whatever we undertake in life can be a creative partnership between ourselves and the reality around us. Leaning on this divine capacity enables us to succeed and flourish, supported by energies beyond our personal resources.
The Way of Worship (Salat)
Salat simply means prayer. Religions answer the question, “who is praying to whom for what purpose?”. But Sufism suggests that conscious living itself is a form of prayer. We can connect to a deep source of blessings and bounty when we acknowledge the sacredness of everything around us. As Inayat Khan suggested, “Make God a reality and God will make you the truth”.
The Inner Life (Tasawuuf)
In its essence, Sufism is mystical; this is what is meant by tasawuuf. It is a way of insight and vision. It doesn't lead away from the world, but through it to the now of union.
The Rose and the Thorn will be facilitated by the Living Sufism team:
Puran Perez, Angelika Macarthur and Isha Francis & friends.
ON ZOOM THE LAST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH
October 2026 through March 2027
These Zoom sessions will be almost entirely experiential.
Instructional content will be delivered through a monthly mailing
of videos, text and exercises as a framework for each interactive session.
REGISTRATION DETAILS COMING SOON
Living Sufism, a Sufi Way Program...
...is an online space for experiencing this centuries-old wisdom tradition in the context of contemporary life. It was initiated by Pir Elias Amidon, the spiritual director of The Sufi Way in September of 2013. Since then it has been developed and presented by members of this community representing a wide range of perspectives. Without diminishing the importance of classic teachings and practices, we continue to explore the practical integration of spirituality in a 21st century world.
Last year's program
Living Sufism...
...is an online series for experiencing this centuries-old wisdom tradition in the context of contemporary life. It was initiated by Pir Elias Amidon, the spiritual director of The Sufi Way in September of 2013. Since then it has been developed and presented, under his guidance, by members of this community representing a wide range of perspectives. Without diminishing the importance of classic teachings and practices, we continue to explore the practical integration of spirituality in a 21st century world.
Site Contents
Living Sufism 2024
Living Sufism 2023
Living Sufism 2022
Living Sufism 2021