Following an eight-months labour of love, between my co-editors, the Archventures group, and contributing writers, a small edition of 250 beautiful copies of a book were published in 2011 – Heart of a Sufi – A prism of reflections on Fazal Inayat-Khan (1942 -1990.) As of now, the book is affordable on-line, see below.
Hand printed wood engraving by Susanne Harding inspired by Fazal’s signature.
The book contains stories, essays and poems written by those who were inspired by the controversial and innovative nature of Fazal’s work, or by the creative spirit that pervaded the place and people he left behind.
In the way mystics talk about the right time, place, and the right people, Fazal offered a timely and challenging spiritual education that embraced wit and the complexities of modern life. During the 1970s – 80s he attracted people from many backgrounds and countries who had very little in common, other than being exiles from tradition and hungry for truth. The book gives a flavour of encounters, stories charting the edge of learning and unlearning, relationships with one’s self, the groups, the world, intense experiences, affecting deep peace and change, often achieved after games of orchestrated struggle and conflict, peaking in performances on the stage of a magical theatre – live and experience first, then reflect. Debriefings after workshops were sobering, humorous and mind-blowing events. And something ineffable was transmitted in these transformative setting, through music, through silence or through a glance.
A short history:
In 1968, at the age of 26 Fazal Inayat-Khan became the head of the Sufi Movement founded by his grandfather, Hazrat Inayat Khan, accredited with introducing Sufism to the West. By 1982 Fazal embraced his personal style to honour his grandfather’s legacy of spiritual liberty by surrendered his leadership of the Movement and chart his own path. His approach to Sufism resembled Idris Shah’s, whose writings had perked my initial interest in Sufism as a timeless practice of wisdom pre-dating Islam, a teaching kept alive through adapting its essence to new times and people. Adaptation in many fields was called for during the 1960s – 80s. The psychological and scientific insights of that period were so radical their social assimilation has yet to happen.
Conceiving of a book that offered a window to Fazal’s work, the editors had wondered if anyone would be brave enough to come forward and share their interactions with this passionate man, the groups and the tumultuous conflicts worked out during that period. We thank again those who contributed. And there must be many more stories of regret, pain, delight, disillusionment, new found coherence, inspiration, and significant life-changes.
The rights for Fazal’s hundreds of talks, poetry and musical tunings rests with the present leadership of Sufi Way. Our book contains some of Fazal’s quotes and the extraordinary poem – Qalandar – but the purpose of Heart of a Sufi is to show the potent seeds of love this remarkable man placed into the hearts of people he touched, seeds now unfolding in new settings for generations to come.
Archventures are pleased to offer Heart of a Sufi as e-book, making it affordable:
http://www.troubador.co.uk/book_info.asp?bookid=2180
On amazon you can peek into some of its pages: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Heart-Sufi-InayatKhanReflectionsebook/dp/B00BFUO0T6/ref=sr_1_22?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1363426951&sr=1-2
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Relevant links can be followed up from the e-book.
Course of Mirrors 
Reblogged this on Oyia Brown.
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Thanks Oyia 🙂
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Thank you for visiting my site ‘Involution-Odyssey’ It seems we have deep interests in common. Very interested in Heart of a Sufi.
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Thanks for visiting, Philippa. Finding you made my day. I’m thrilled to come upon a resonating mind 🙂 And I’m looking forward to the publication of ‘Involution.’
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Will keep you posted. If a printed copy is what you want there are a few advance copies available through my website (email address posted). If an ebook is preferred they should be available soon…if you write and might review I’ll send you a free copy of either epib or mobi. Where do you live? It is so exciting to contemplate a reader!
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I prefer printed books and will order a copy through your website. Must put ‘Involution’ on my Goodreads list, though I’m not clued-up how to make the best of the site. I’m a slow reader, but would certainly attempt a review of ‘Involution.’.
I’m German/Dutch. My son was born in a tiny Hamlet in the Quantocks Hills and our small family lived there for the first 5 years of his life. Now I’m single and live in Surrey.
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Quantocks? ..Just up the road for me ( well the country road) No I have not mastered any of the teck savvy options, but bumble about, and recently no time to absorb the virtual manuals either. I am English/Dutch, and as no doubt was obvious in the interview South African born and raised. Really good to have found you via Roz who has very interesting friends!.
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Wonderful synchronicities 🙂 Like little flowers that spring up from under a concreted landscape.
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Hi I am Nigel Patrick O’Sullivan son of Collette who was teach by Fazal in NYC (around)1968-74. My aunt is Dina. Please read this >Searching Information
Collette O’Sullivan
She was born in Limerick, Ireland on 1950 and immigrates with her family to Queens on 1958. She lives her last years in NYC where she was member of the Sufi Way or Community. Her Sufi teacher was Fazal Inayat-Khan, also known as Frank Kevlin, was a psychotherapist and poet who led the International Sufi Movement from 1968 to 1982. She works for a time in Figaro Café in Greenwich Village. Also frequents the Washington Square Park in same Village. She dies on October 13, 1975 in 601W 110th St. (College Residence Club – now named College Residence Hall). She “fell” out of her window room 8J6. Her fiancée name was “Chuck Chakery”. One of her best friends was named Robert Stephson. On August of 1972 she delivered a baby boy that is me, Nigel Patrick O’Sullivan. If you know more information or have meet my mother I will appreciate if you can share it with me.
E-mail: nigel_33@hotmail.com
Phone: (939) 218-2822
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Dear Nigel, ah, the internet, the great finder of trails.
I’m sorry to hear you lost your mother so soon after you were born.
I have not met Collette, living mainly in Germany and England during the 70’s. I was in Washington DC at some point, but not in NY.
I’ll ask some of my American friends if they knew your mother. So will update when I have any news.
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Ok. Thanks for your time and I hope maybe you can find some American friends that knew my mother. Thanks again! Nigel
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