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Office of the Secretary 

Brother/Sisterhood Activity for the Western Hemisphere

Stephanie Nuria Sabato, Secretary

KarimaGita Erickson, Assistant Secretary
Petra Alima Mooijman, Assistant Secretary


The purpose of the International Sufi Movement is to work towards unity, [the ideal of Universal Sufism and the Religion of the Heart]. Its main object is to bring humanity, divided as it is into so many different sections, closer together in the deeper understanding of life. It is a preparation for a world service, chiefly in three ways. One way is the philosophical understanding of life; another is bringing about brotherhood and sisterhood among races, nations and creeds; and the third way is the meeting of the world’s greatest need, which is the religion of the day. Its work is to bring to the world that natural religion which has always been the religion of humanity: to respect one another’s beliefs, scripture, and teacher.

12. World Reconstruction (2), Part 2

Brotherhood/Sisterhood Activity • Monthly Teaching • Upcoming Online Message Class

Beloved Brothers and Sisters,

If we are to serve humanity and conditions in the world, Hazrat Inayat Khan teaches that we must learn the “art of being”, saying, “it is an art which is known to the soul, but it is his own being, it is the deepest knowledge that he has in his heart.” May we contemplate this teaching and his words in the prayer “Khatum”.

“Disclose to us thy Divine Light
which is hidden in our souls
That we may know and understand Life better.”

With Loving Regards and Prayers for an enlightened world,
Our Workers


Social Gatheka no. 12, Part 2, World Reconstruction (2)
by Hazrat Inayat Khan

We shall not understand the life outside if we do not understand ourselves. It is the knowledge of the self that gives the knowledge of the world. The politician, the statesman, however qualified, will dispute about things for years and years, he will never come to a satisfactory conclusion unless he understands the psychology of life and the psychology of the situation. And so the educationist will try a new scheme and will never come to a satisfactory conclusion, unless he has the psychological knowledge of life, which will teach him the psychology of human nature, what is the manner to solve the problem.

What is today called psychology is not what I mean. It do not mean by the word psychology what they call psychoanalysis. I call psychology the understanding of the self, the understanding of the nature and character of the mind and the body. Friends, what is health? Health is order. And what is order? Order is music. Where there is harmony, rhythm, regularity, cooperation, there is harmony, there is sympathy. The health of mind, therefore, and the health of body depend upon the preserving of that harmony, upon keeping intact that sympathy which is going on in mind and body.

And remember that life in the world, and especially as we live it amidst the crowd, will test and try our patience every moment of the day, and it will be most difficult to preserve that harmony and peace which is all happiness. For what is the definition of life? Life means struggle with friends and battle with foes. It is all the time giving and taking, and it is most difficult in this to keep the sympathy, to keep the harmony which is health and happiness.

Now you will ask, “Where are we to learn it?" My friends, all education and learning and knowledge are acquired, but this one art is a divine art, and man has inherited it. But, absorbed in the outer learning, he has forgotten it, but it is an art which is known to the soul, but it is his own being, it is the deepest knowledge that he has in his heart. No progress in whatever line that man will make will give him that satisfaction which his soul is craving for, except this one, which is the art of life, the art of being, which is the pursuit of the soul.

In order to serve the reconstruction of the world the only thing possible and the only thing necessary is to learn the art of being, the art of life for oneself and to be an example oneself, before trying to serve humanity.

What is the Sufi Movement? What is Sufism? It is that art of which I have just spoken, the art by which that music and symphony of life can be preserved, and by that man can enable himself to become the proper servant of God and humanity.

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12. World Reconstruction (2), Part 1

Brotherhood/Sisterhood Activity • Monthly Teaching • Upcoming Online Message Class

Beloved Brothers and Sisters,

What is needed for the reconstruction of an unhealthy condition in the world? Hazrat Inayat Khan encourages us, “to understand that religion of religions and that philosophy of philosophies, which is self-knowledge. We shall not understand the life outside if we do not understand ourselves.” May this teaching and his words from the prayer “Khatum” draw us toward greater understanding.

“Disclose to us Thy Divine Light
Which is hidden in our souls
That we may know and understand Life better.”

With Loving Regards and Prayers for an enlightened world,
Our Workers


Social Gatheka no. 12, Part 1, World Reconstruction (2)
by Hazrat Inayat Khan

Now looking at the question from a philosophical point of view. What is construction, what is reconstruction? A construction is that which is made already. A child born is a construction. But after a disorder in the health or in mind, there comes again a need of reconstruction. In the English language there is an expression: "To pull oneself together." The reconstruction of the world today means for the world to pull itself together. The education, the political, the social condition, the financial condition, religion, all those things which made civilization, seem to have scattered and in order for these things to come together there must be a secret of life to be studied. What is the secret of healing power? The secret is to make oneself strong enough to pull oneself together. And that is the secret of the life of the mystic. The world has lost its health, and when one can picture the world as an individual, one can see what it is to lose one's health. It is just like illness in the life of an individual. And as for every illness there is a remedy, so for every disaster there is a reconstruction.

But now there are different ideas that people have. There is the pessimist, he says, "Well, if the world has got to this state of destruction, who can help it, how can it be helped?” It is like an ill person who says, "Well, I have been so ill, I have suffered so much, I do not care. How can I be well now? It is almost too late." In that way he holds his disease and he keeps it, he cherishes it, although he does not like it. And then there is a curious person, who is very much astonished to see the newspaper and see that this money has gone up and that money has gone down, and to see that there is the probability of a war, there may be another war, and he will excite his friends about it.

Then there is another person who says, "Some committees must be formed, there must be some societies, some leagues, some congresses must be formed, we must do something definite." And in this way there are now so many societies and congresses formed and discussing, and so many more meetings, so many more discussions. But there seems to be no end to the discussions and disputes in order to find out the ways and means how the condition must be bettered.

I do not mean to say that any effort in whatever form made towards the reconstruction or towards the betterment of conditions is not worth while, however small. But what is most needed for us is to understand that religion of religions and that philosophy of philosophies, which is self-knowledge. We shall not understand the life outside if we do not understand ourselves. It is the knowledge of the self that gives the knowledge of the world. The politician, the statesman, however qualified, will dispute about things for years and years, he will never come to a satisfactory conclusion unless he understands the psychology of life and the psychology of the situation. And so the educationist will try a new scheme and will never come to a satisfactory conclusion, unless he has the psychological knowledge of life, which will teach him the psychology of human nature, what is the manner to solve the problem.

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11. World Reconstruction, Part 2

Brotherhood/Sisterhood Activity • Monthly Teaching • Upcoming Online Message Class

Beloved Brothers and Sisters,

Given the conditions and problems of our world, Hazrat Inayat Khan teaches, “the only thing in the world which was meant to be a refuge was religion.” As we meet the problems of the day may we take refuge in our Divine Ideal.

“Thou the life eternal, we seek refuge
In Thy loving enfoldment.”

-From the prayer Rasul by Hazrat Inayat Khan-

With Loving Regards and Prayers for an enlightened world,
Our Workers


Social Gatheka no. 11, Part 2, World Reconstruction
by Hazrat Inayat Khan

As long as nations and people profit by the loss of other nations and people, for the moment they may think that they are benefited, but in the end all will realize that we human beings, as individuals or as a multitude, all depend upon one another. For instance, if for the cause of one part of one's body the other part suffers, in the end it will prove an unbalanced condition, a lack of health in the physical body. What does health mean? Health means all the organs of the body in good condition, and so the health of the world means all nations, all people in a good condition.

When one leaves the financial condition and comes to the problem of education, in spite of all the progress that has been made in the educational world, no-one with thought can refuse to consider the little child, what is his age, what is his strength and what work is given him to accomplish. It seems that in the enthusiasm of making education richer and richer, a kind of load has been put on the mind of the children and what happens? It is like a dish which was meant to be ready after half an hour's cooking, made ready in five minutes time. What has happened? It is perhaps burnt; it wanted a longer time. The child knows too much for his age, what he does not require, what he does not value, what is a load to him, what is forced upon his mind.

And how few of us stop to think of this question that childhood is a kingliness in itself. It is a gift from above that the child is growing and, during the time of his growth, that he is unaware of the woes and worries and anxieties of life. These are only days for experiencing the kingliness of life, the days when he should play, when he should be nearer nature, when he should grasp what nature gradually teaches. Imagine then that the childhood is devoted to study, study of the material knowledge. And as soon as the child has grown into the youth, the burden of life is put on his shoulders, the burden of life which is becoming everyday heavier and heavier for the rich and poor; and the result of this is that there are parties, there is disagreement between labour and capital, the life full of struggle to which the child opens his eyes and he has never the time to be one with nature, or to dive deep within himself, or to think beyond this life in the crowd.

When we leave the problem of education and come to the problem of nations one becomes still more perplexed. The enmity, hatred and prejudice which exist between nations and nations, and the antagonism and the utter selfishness which is the central theme of communications and connections between nations, that shows that the world is turning from bad to worse and unrest seems to be all pervading. There seems to be no trust between nations, no sympathy, except their own interest. And what is the outcome of it? Its impression falls as a shadow upon the individuals, turning the individuals also to that egoism, that selfishness. And the only thing in the world which was meant to be a refuge was religion. But at the present moment, with the increase of ever-growing materialism and overwhelming commercialism, the religion seems to be fading away. A silent indifference towards religion seems to be increasing, especially in the countries foremost in civilization today. That being the condition, where could man find the solution of the problem of the day?

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11. World Reconstruction, Part 1

Brotherhood/Sisterhood Activity • Monthly Teaching • Upcoming Online Message Class

Beloved Brothers and Sisters,

Upon first reading of these words offered by Hazrat Inayat Khan, one might think he was speaking in the present day of current global events, however; these words were presented in the early twentieth century following the conditions of World War I.

Considering the affects of such world conditions, Hazrat Inayat Khan teaches that the health of the body depends upon the health of all of its organs and parts, and so, “human beings, as individuals or as a multitude, all depend upon one another” to maintain a healthy condition of the whole humanity.

With Loving Regards and Prayers for an enlightened world,
Our Workers

Social Gatheka no. 11, Part 1, World Reconstruction

Especially after the war and the pain that the world has experienced, people are beginning to think on the subject of reconstruction. But no doubt every mentality, and in this way the ideas about reconstruction of the world differ very much. Considering the condition of the world as it is today, in the first place when one thinks of the financial condition, which is most essential for order and peace, it is so confused and has become so difficult to solve that it seems that there are many with their intellect and brain and understanding, helpless before this most difficult problem. No doubt there are many who will tell us that there is no other remedy for the betterment of humanity than the solution of the financial problem.

But at the same time it seems that the financial problem is becoming everyday more and more difficult and bringing nations and races and communities to a greater and greater destruction, and before this problem is solved it is no wonder if a great deal of damage is done to nations. And although intoxicated by the absorption in his own problem of life, man does not think enough about these things; nevertheless in the end the world in general will realize the weakness, the feebleness, caused by this disorder and unbalanced condition of the financial problem of the world.

As long as nations and people profit by the loss of other nations and people, for the moment they may think that they are benefited, but in the end all will realize that we human beings, as individuals or as a multitude, all depend upon one another. For instance, if for the cause of one part of one's body the other part suffers, in the end it will prove an unbalanced condition, a lack of health in the physical body. What does health mean? Health means all the organs of the body in good condition, and so the health of the world means all nations, all people in a good condition.

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10. The Journey to the Goal, Part 5

Brotherhood/Sisterhood Activity • Monthly Teaching • Upcoming Online Message Class

Beloved Brothers and Sisters,

Whether we are a beginner or a seasoned traveller on a spiritual path, Hazrat Inayat Khan reminds us that struggles with one’s lower nature will arise and want to drag one down to earth. He encourages us that help through the struggles on the journey will come if we keep our aspirations toward the goal with a right attitude. May his inspired words in the prayer “Saum” guide us on the journey to the goal.

“Raise us from the denseness of the earth.
Thy Beauty do we worship.
To Thee do we give willing surrender.
Most Merciful and Compassionate God
The idealized Lord of the whole humanity
Thee only do we worship,
And toward Thee alone do we aspire.”

The prayer “Saum” may be read at http://www.sufimovement.us/prayers.htm

With Loving Regards and Prayers for an enlightened world,
Nuria, KarimaGita, Kabriya


Social Gatheka no. 10, Part 5, The Journey to the Goal
by Hazrat Inayat Khan

The beginning of each path is always difficult and uninteresting, hard for everybody. Ask the violinist, the first days when he practises the scales and he cannot even form the tones: often he has not patience enough to go on, till he can play so well that he is satisfied. The first part of the path is permanent strife, a struggle with life, but as one approaches the goal, the path gets easier: the distance seems larger, but the path is easier, the difficulties less. The journey is achieved first by realizing in oneself: what am I, am I body, mind, or what else am I? Do I originate from earth or from where else?

As soon as one has started on the journey, one's lower nature rises up, all his follies and weaknesses want to drag one down to earth and the struggle of breaking these chains requires the strength of Samson. Then comes the struggle between beauty in matter and spiritual beauty. Beauty in forms is more realistic: spiritual beauty is hidden in mist, until one comes to a stage that spiritual beauty becomes the beauty which is a shining light.

Another struggle is that when man has acquired knowledge, power, magnetism: he is conscious of having a greater power than others, of knowing more than others, of being able to do more than others. To use those faculties rightly is another struggle. He must not pride himself on those accomplishments. There is an enemy who starts with him on the journey, and never leaves him: his pride and spiritual egotism. It stays with him as long as he is on his path. Think of the temptation on having received inspiration and power, when one can think: I can do, know, understand more than you. That is a constant struggle till the end, and every moment one falls and tumbles down.

Only the steady traveller will persist in rising up every time, as without patience he may lose the path. Those who journey on this path will get help. As Christ said: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all things will be given to you." The goal is the important thing, and the right attitude of the soul towards it, and not the things you meet on the path. The inner culture of the Sufi School, which is now presented to the Western world is meant as a guidance on this path. Nobody in the world can carry a person on this path. The only thing is a little advice can be given by those who have journeyed on the path, to those who really wish to travel on it.

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10. The Journey to the Goal, Part 4

Brotherhood/Sisterhood Activity • Monthly Teaching • Upcoming Online Message Class

Beloved Sisters and Brothers,

We live in a world of people with many different natures, and Hazrat Inayat Khan warns us that this can present a path of thorns on our journey to the goal. He encourages us to refine our character, developing forgiveness, patience and tolerance. May his prayer guide us on our path.

“Teach us Thy Loving forgiveness;
Raise us above the distinctions and
differences which divide men.
Send us the Peace of Thy Divine Spirit
And unite us all in Thy Perfect Being.”

With Loving Regards and Prayers for an enlightened world,
Nuria, KarimaGita, Kabriya


Social Gatheka no. 10, Part 4, The Journey to the Goal
by Hazrat Inayat Khan

When a man's attitude is a loving attitude, a tendency to serve, to forgive, to tolerate, a reverence for all (good and bad, young and old) then he begins his journey.

To explain what path this is: there is no better symbol for it than the path of the cross. No one without courage, without strength of will, and without patience, can go this path. When a person has to live among people of all natures, he must make his own character soft as a rose; make it finer, so that no one can be hurt by the thorns.

Two thorns cannot harm each other. The thorns can hurt the rose, but the rose cannot tear the thorns. The journey begins with a path of thorns, and he must go barefoot. It is not easy to be tolerant, always to be patient, to refrain from judging others and to love one's enemy.

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