Exploring the Mystery
An old Gnostic bishop once told me that if I wanted to study the ancient ways of the mystery schools, I might want to forget about Gnosticism, that most of those lineages were killed off and much of the wisdom had been lost in history. "If you truly want to experience a mystery school today, check out the Sufis."
The Abode of the Message is hosting an introductory weekend for their esoteric Sufi studies at the Suluk Academy if anyone is interested in checking out their heart-opening, mystical program.
Introduction to Suluk Academy - March 26th-29th at the Abode of the Message
The Suluk Academy is a school of esoteric Sufi studies founded by Pir Zia Inayat-Khan in 2002. The Academy's guiding vision derives from the spiritual legacy of Hazrat Inayat Khan (1882-1927), the mystical philosopher and musician who gave definitive modern expression to the timeless and universal wisdom of Sufism. The Suluk Academy offers spiritual training programs based upon the teachings of the Sufi Order International (SOI). The Academy provides an opportunity to participate in a focused study of the essential perspectives and spiritual practices of the SOI's esoteric school, emphasizing the soul's natural unfoldment in life through the cultivation of balance and integration.
This month we are offering a special opportunity to learn more about the SOI and Suluk Academy, through our introductory weekend titled "Exploring the Journey." This is also an excellent chance to visit our beautiful retreat center and residential community, the Abode of the Message. If you are interested in finding out more about what we do, please join us for this 3-day event held at the Abode of the Message on March 26th-29th, led by Pir Zia Inayat-Khan and other senior Sufi Order teachers. No previous experience with Suluk Academy or the Sufi Order is required to participate in this event, and no further commitment is requested. I hope you will consider joining us for this program.
Tuition is $260 - some scholarships are available.
For further information or to register, go to www.sulukacademy.org contact suluk@sufiorder.org or 518-794-7834, ext 128. Event takes place in New Lebannon, NY.
- 3-11-09
- Talat Jonathan Phillips's blog
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Comments
Questions
If this bishop was authentic and in 'the know', why didn't he teach true gnosticism himself?
And how comes, that last year it was christian-gnosticism, while it now appears to be a kind of sufi-mysticism equalling gnostic practices? There seem to be some doctrinal uncertainties, I would love to see more light on.
What he might have been hinting at
What I think he might have been hinting at is that the Gnostic lineages were killed off when Emperor Theodosius ordered for all their churches and texts to be burned in 391, not too mention a number of centuries under the inquisitions and intolerance of the Catholic Church. So, I think what he was saying is that most of these communities and a lot of their knowledge had been destroyed. He had been trained through individuals (which is pretty common for the Gnostic wisdom that I've seen) but as far as thriving Gnostic communities that lasted throughout the ages, those are very hard to find. You'll most likely have to go to the marsh lands of Iraq and the Mandeans (followers of John the Baptist) to find a surviving Gnostic community still in tact from back in the day. But many of the mystical sufi communities, and their varying processes of spiritual intiations, have been around hundreds of years, and still are.
Anyway, I just thought this was a cool program some people might like to check out.
Re: Jonathan
I do not quite put communities in the same category as doctrines. Doctrines are the way a religion defines its specific assumptions, methods and aims, distinguishing it from other religions.
Communities are not so clearly outlined.
There's no need to go to the marshes in Iraq to find mandaeans. There are many living in the west, e.g. the country I live in.
They can be found on www.mandaeanworld.com for those who prefer to go directly to the presently best represented gnostic-like group instead of the roundabout way through other religions.
I must add, that I'm completely without any association to mandaeans.
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