International Sufi Movement
Summer School, July 2012
Katwijk, Netherlands on the North Sea
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"Nature is the very being of man; therefore he feels at one with nature"
Hazrat Inayat Khan, Gayan/Chalas
Dear Friend on the Sufi Path,
We heartily invite you to join us in our International Summer School in the Universel Murad Hassil in Katwijk aan Zee.
This year's theme will be 'The holy book of nature,' of which Hazrat Inayat Khan has said: "To the eye of the seer every leaf of the tree is a page of the holy book that contains divine revelation, and he is inspired every moment of his life by constantly reading and understanding the holy script of nature."
In this holy place amidst the dunes, home to wildlife such as deer and many species of birds, and just a few minutes' walk from the North Sea, we hope to experience together su- blime nature in all its aspects: the power, the life, the stillness, and the beauty. We ourselves are also a part of nature, and when we open our hearts to that truth, we may hear, as Hazrat Inayat Khan says, that, "Nature softly whispers Thy word to our ears."
This year the Summer School will emphasize deep attunement and personal experience. The program will include a wide range of activities, such as Sacred Readings, breathing practices, meditative exercises and the Singing Zikar. Of course the option to meditate in silence in the valley, a sacred place, is always open.
On Commemoration day, 12 July, it is possible to visit the cemetery 'Oud Eik en Duinen' in The Hague, where the burial sites of the brothers of Hazrat Inayat Khan are. It is also possible to visit the Sufi museum. In connection with our theme, we will pay special attention to nature walks and nature meditations, to attune our spirits to the stillness and beauty of our surroundings. In that attunement we can immerse ourselves in the Sufi Message of Hazrat Inayat Khan, who has given us inspiring answers to the important questions we have within ourselves and in our society.
We will also have a program for children and lots of singing. Our program will also feature interesting lectures by members of our Sufi community, and a special guest lecture by Matthijs Schouten, a professor of ecology and philosophy of nature restoration at Wageningen University and a professor of nature and landscape protection at the University of Cork. Professor Schouten is also a Buddhist and a student of comparative religion, and has written extensively on the subject of nature in philosophy, culture and art.
Please note that the program is subject to change without notice. Participants are kindly encouraged to register before June 1st.
"Sublime nature, let my heart find rest in Thy stillness"
Hazrat Inayat Khan, Vadan/Alankaras
