SOHBET

Sohbet is a spiritual transmission, a cleansing of the soul and a meeting of the hearts. The literal meaning of the word ‘Sohbet’ is conversation. In Sufism (tasawwuf), Sohbet is an essential spiritual practice. It is a spiritual transaction between the murshid (teacher) and the murid (student), which relies on ancient oral storytelling traditions and practices, and goes beyond the knots of the rational mind. This Sohbet, by sufi teacher Pir Zia Inayat Khan, helps us reflect on our daily lives and our inner states, to guide us in our search for a sense of unity with the Divine. See Pir Zia Inayat Khan in “The Search for God”.

CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER

The Christian tradition of contemplative prayer goes back to Jesus who went to the desert to pray in solitude before many of the most significant events in his life. Following that tradition, Adam Bucko meets once a week with his community to enter the desert of the heart, where we can learn how to empty our selves. In doing so, he utilizes ancient monastic practices of prayer and receptive silence such as Centering Prayer, and Conversational Prayer or Practicing the Presence of God, inspired by Br. Lawrence of the Resurrection, a 17th century french Carmelite lay brother. See Adam Bucko in “The Power of Community”.

ZEN: THE FOUR GREAT VOWS

The four great vows are recited daily by Buddhist practitioners in the all-encompassing intention of liberation.
The Bodhisattva Vows exist in many different forms; at Upaya they are chanted as follows:

Creations are numberless, I vow to free them.
Delusions are inexhaustible, I vow to transform them.
Reality is boundless, I vow to perceive it.
The awakened way is unsurpassable, I vow to embody it.

The four great vows are chanted as a group three times.

Life and death are of supreme importance –
Time passes swiftly and opportunity is lost –
Let us awaken – awaken . . .
Do not squander your life.

See Roshi Joan Halifax in “The Power of Community”.