Universal Worship and Ordination

Basir conducting my House Blessing and Universal Worship - 2001

I am so conscious of the light these days.  The light in Sicily was fuller, brighter, and yet of course the same.  There is such an attraction to the light, the sun, even in the darkness there are shadows and reflections and beams of light.  It is the absence of light that leads towards the dark.  

It is fitting that as the light extends and the sun rises higher in the sky, that I am moving toward  ordination as a Cherag.  This has been something that I have been moving towards for a long time.  My path in the Sufi Order International, and the resonance and love that I have found in the teachings of Hazrat Inayat Khan who brought Sufism to the west has been one of the most amazing gifts in my life.  It is also one that has carried much doubt, question, fear, and stumbling along the path.  The vision of the Sufi Order International is:

	1. To realize and spread the knowledge of unity, the religion of love and wisdom, so that the bias of faith and beliefs may of itself fall away, the human heart may overflow with love and all hatred caused by distinctions and differences may be rooted out. 2. To discover the light and power latent within all human beings, that is the secret of all religion, the power of mysticism, and the essence of philosophy, without interfering with customs or belief. 3. To help to bring the worlds two opposite poles, East and West, closer together by the interchange of thought and ideals, that the Universal Kinship may form of itself, and human being may see with human being beyond the narrow national and racial boundaries. So here is where technology interrupts my story...there is this space....and just let it be that...and read on below, please.

The Universal Worship is a part of the mission and activities of the Sufi Order International and several other branches on our family tree of the sufi message.  I have been training to be an ordained minister, they are called Cherags, for several years, and this weekend I will be ordained, Insh'Allah.  

I wanted to share a little about what the service is and what is this service that we do, the Universal Worship.

The Universal Worship represents an ideal put forth by Hazrat Inayat Khan in 1921 to bring all of the world’s religions together in order to promote tolerance, understanding and spiritual awakening for humanity. We offer a prayer service, kindling lights for the world’s religions and all of the prophets who have come to earth to further the experience of love by human beings. The service often uses music and meditation to connect the participants with their inner state.

Honoring and protecting the holy scriptures of every faith without judgment or prejudice is a foundation of the Universal Worship. There are ordained ministers called Cherags (“lamps”), women and men, who facilitate the Universal Worship service and who are empowered to perform weddings, receiving infants, funerals and many other duties.

The Universal Worship is also a catalyst to bring together clergy and people of all religions in interfaith events. The Universal Worship is celebrated in many countries of the world both East and West. Hazrat Inayat Khan has averred that the Universal Worship will be the vehicle to bring forth the understanding and experience of love, harmony and beauty to the world.

I am excited and sober and find myself slowing going within in preparation for this incredible passage way that is occurring in my life.  I like that this is happening in Spring, it is rebirth, it is opening up, it is receiving, and there is all the steps of preparation of the soil, the spring cleaning inside and out.  Awakening from the stillness of winter, coming out of the dark.  Stepping into the light.  All reminders of the love, the harmony and beauty within ourselves and in our world.