A Life Filled with Love, Harmony and Beauty

For more than 50 years Pir Shabda Kahn has been transmitting the rich lineage of Sufism with gentleness and humor. Shabda has served as the Spiritual Director of the Sufi Ruhaniat International since 2001. This universal Sufi lineage traces from Hazrat Inayat Khan and Murshid Samuel Lewis. As a young man, Shabda began to study and perform North Indian classical vocal music under the guidance of the late master singer Fakhir Pran Nath. He is also a disciple of the illustrious Tibetan master, the 12th Tai Situ Rinpoche.

In his interview with Kabbalah 99, Pir Shabda discusses the inspiration for his book PHYSICIANS OF THE HEART and the development of this 10-year collaborative project. He explores the Sound Code imbedded in the Arabic language, describes life as a composition, and shares the way through gratitude to have a happy life filled with love, harmony and beauty.

The 99 Beautiful Names Sung Together

Pir Shabda explores the practice of reciting the 99 Beautiful Names of G’d to invoke divine qualities such as compassion, mercy strength, courage… rooted in a sound code formula. In this podcast, you will get to hear the vocal recitation of all the Beautiful Names sung together in the Moroccan fashion by Sidi Ali Sbai. A friend and colleague of Pir Shabda, internationally known Sidi Ali has been reciting Qur’an at mosques since age 10.

What Is the Sound Code?

Sound itself is like a tuning fork that tunes your being to the vibration that you are calling.

Pir Shabda explains the Sound Code formula imbedded in the structure of the Arabic language. These verb sound variations help to inform you of the meaning of the Name. Examples are er-Rahman and er-Rahim, which are different verb forms of the same Name of G’d. Er-Rahman, the boundaryless container of Love, sends you all the way out, while er-Rahim sends you all the way into the intimate feeling of that Love.

Life as Music Composition

The great master and renown classical Indian musician, Hazrat Inayat Khan asks,

Why is music so appealing to humanity? Because the Soul is made out of music.

Following this inspiration, as a young man Shabda met and instantly connected with the Classical North Indian Raga vocalist and mystic Pandit Pran Nath. Shabda became Guruji’s disciple in March 1973, receiving 24 years of guidance from him. The practice of raga is an oral transmission of the spirituality of music: seeing life as a composition and harmonizing with life.

The Way of Happiness

Shabda shares that one way to describe the purpose of life is to make friends with whatever is arising –to deconstruct the notion of a separate self. All beings wish to be happy. That roadmap is written on the cell. If every morning we recognize we’ve woken up and something is calling us on the way, this calling is to fulfill the wish to be happy. This innate primordial freedom is our true nature.

Instead of thinking. ‘what I’m going to be’, think instead of how I’m going to live? Pir Shabda guides listeners to put together a list of 10 Aspirations such as these:

10 Aspirations

Practice these daily to the best of your ability. The quality of your life will improve. And the quality of your service will improve. What does it mean to keep in rhythm with everyday life? Start by asking yourself, “How do I relax with everything that is arising?”

For strength and peace when challenges arise, Shabda encourages us to face what’s happening and recite the mantra,

This is how it is right now.

Make friends with life and deal with what’s arising. Don’t try to avoid it. Recognize that perfect relaxation is another word for enlightenment. As Murshid Samuel Lewis penned:

There’s a sign at the gate of heaven. Abandon tension all ye who enter here.

Receive Pir Shabda’s Blessing

Serving as the spiritual director for the Dances of Universal Peace worldwide, Pir Shabda offers regular Zikhr meetings in Marin County, CA and travels the world spreading the Sufi Message of Love, Harmony and Beauty. Bringing warmth, rich experience and clarity through his service as Pir, he shares his teachings and music to support seekers on their path to awakening.

Listen to receive Pir Shabda’s blessings of Love — to have a happy, fulfilling life and that your actions be of great benefit.

Ya Fattah

Publications, Podcasts and More:

• Physicians of the Heart
• Pir Shabda Kahn
• Sufi Ruhaniat International
• DVDs and CDs
• More Podcasts with Shabda – Cultivating the Inner Life