Zikr is a prayer practice of “remembrance.” The word itself is a Persian form of the Arabic “Dhikr.” Since the Sirat-i Inayat Sufi Order is a living expression of Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan’s teachings, we use the form of the word that he instructed.
Sufism is a mystical tradition. It is described as “the religion of the heart.” The prayers are usually spoken/sung in Arabic. Western Sufism was introduced by Pir-O-Murshid Hazrat Inayat Khan, who was a teacher of Murshid Samuel Lewis, who originated the Dances of Universal Peace.
Similar to a Dance of Universal Peace, in a Zikr circle, there is a leader who teaches words, melodies and movements. Different from the Dances, the movements tend to be very simple and repetitive in order to facilitate a “forgetfulness” of duality. The longer cycles of chanting provide an opportunity for the individual experience to dissolve in the shared prayer intention of the group, the whole.
Through repetition of mantra and movement, we can release our attachments to our mundane identifications and let ourselves fall into the remembrance of Oneness.
We are striving, through this practice, to “remember” that all of existence is nothing but God, that we are part of that Divine Presence, and that we long to return to the felt experience of that Reality.
An evening of Zikr includes chanting sacred phrases, mostly in Arabic, supported by live music including (at least) guitar and drum. Movements are in a circle, holding hands in order to unite our intentions, actions and prayers in an energy of harmonious unity.
There is a monthly Zikr on the 3rd Saturday of each month in Denver
7 PM Mountain Time
E-mail me for more information: rain@trigoddess.org