Pir Shabda Kahn
Tuesday, April 28, 2020
Cultivate daily breath, rhythm, and mantra practices to find your true essence of inner light and access your happiness baseline.
Did you know you have a gift within you to access happiness as your baseline — no matter what circumstances you’re facing?
What if happiness has nothing to do with the outer world changing, and everything to do with your own transformation?
What if you could maintain a foundation of happiness, even amidst the anxiety and danger swirling around the outside world?
According to Pir Shabda Kahn — devoted disciple of Sufism for more than 50 years, teacher, performer, and spiritual director of Sufi Ruhaniat International — happiness is having access to your extraordinary inner light...
... your essence, in other words, and a profound knowing that you’re part of the Oneness of the universe.
We’re at a moment in history when most of us are isolated... from each other and from the things we do to feel fulfilled throughout our days — our sense of purpose.
We’re being called to understand that our sacred purpose is not in the things we DO, but in merging with the ocean... with all that is.
So, how can you achieve that?
Sufi practitioners have demonstrated for centuries that when you incorporate breathwork and intention into your daily life, your entire inner life starts to have meaning, and your field fills with blessings...
... because breath is life — and absolutely essential to the health and vitality of your body on your journey to fulfilling your divine purpose.
In this deeply transformative 7-week journey with Pir Shabda, you’ll discover a beautifully curated array of Sufi breathwork practices, mantras, and sound medicine to help you experience yourself as One with everything.... and cultivate ever-increasing strength, ease, courage, and happiness.
You’ll experience, for example, the sound healing practice of placing a sacred sound on the breath. As you’ll discover, these sacred sounds (mostly in the root languages of Sanskrit, Tibetan, Aramaic, Arabic, and Hebrew) are immensely transformative when chanted with an open heart.
— Rumi
During this intimate journey, you’ll:
- Find inner peace and resilient vitality through Sufi breathwork and healing mantras
- Practice Fikr, a guided ryazat (spiritual exercise), and start to cultivate a daily breath and rhythm practice of your own
- Discover the roots of Sufi mysticism
- Understand how mysticism is based on direct experience, rather than philosophy
- Realize why the challenges and struggles of life are really your greatest teachers for transformation
- Practice refined rhythmic breathing as a source of healing
- Be guided through the applicable lessons from Sufi mystics about keeping calm — even while experiencing this destabilizing pandemic
- Find comfort in knowing your breath goes on rhythmically whether you’re asleep or awake, keeping all pulsations in rhythm — and why your whole-body health depends on it
- Practice Fikr, a guided ryazat (spiritual exercise), and start to cultivate a daily breath and rhythm practice of your own
- Explore the paradox of living with passion and being at ease with whatever arises
- Access ancient sound technologies in integrity with experiential spiritual lineages
- Explore the essential process of transcending your limited self (ego) so you can merge with the greater Self — the divine presence
- Learn to practice the path of the lover and the Beloved
Proper breathing is especially important in uncertain times like these, when so many of us feel anxious, helpless, frustrated, and lonely...
When we experience disturbing emotions, the flow of our breath is interrupted, disorganizing our thoughts, taxing our strength and inner will, and stealing our peace.
With more tumultuous events unfolding by the day, creating a rhythmic breath practice can be the doorway to freedom and resilience.
Through Pir Shabda’s mystic wisdom and transformative practices, you can learn how to enjoy life and be of benefit to the world, even as you’re sheltering in place.
This training invites you to be passionate about the ultimate goal — limitless freedom — in every moment... a happiness and freedom not based on desired outcomes.
At this time of uncertainty, it’s so important to cultivate equanimity with everything that arises.
What You’ll Discover in These 7 Weeks
In this 7-week transformational intensive, Pir Shabda will guide you through mystical Sufi breathwork, mantras, and sacred sounds — healing practices to cultivate inner peace and resilience.
The Power of Live Streaming Video
You’ll connect with Pir Shabda and experience his teachings through live streaming video. This connection will be easy to use and will enhance the impact of Pir Shabda’s body of work. Or you can easily connect just via audio if you choose — through your phone, tablet, laptop, or computer.
Course Sessions Tuesdays at 11:00am Pacific
This course will feature LIVE teachings, interactive training sessions, and experiential practices with Pir Shabda. Each session will build harmoniously upon the previous ones, so you’ll develop a complete holistic understanding of the practices, tools, and principles you’ll need to discover inner peace, resilience, and happiness.
Module 1: Discovering the Purpose of Life — Find the Compass Point & Skillful Means That Lead to Inner Happiness (April 28)
We’re surrounded by the myth that if only circumstances were exactly as we’d like, we’d be happy…
The truth is, happiness and freedom come from the process of transforming ourselves...
In this opening session, you’ll explore why breath, sound, and attitude are the greatest transformative tools to help you on your path to limitless freedom.
In this module, you’ll discover:
- Pir Shabda’s musical introduction to ground you as the course begins
- The roots of Sufi mysticism
- How mysticism is based on direct experience, rather than philosophy
- Your compass point and skillful means that lead to inner happiness
- How to deconstruct the notion that we’re separate beings
Module 2: Rhythm, Breath & Motion — A Perfect Marriage for Healing (May 5)
— Hazrat Inayat Khan
Breathing is a powerful source of healing, available to us in every moment. In this second class, you’ll dive deep into breathwork as a spiritual practice, and Pir Shabda will guide you to find the rhythm and natural swing of your breath.
In this module, you’ll:
- Learn to make a habit of a rhythmic breath
- Understand the unique blessings of both inhalation and exhalation
- Discover refined rhythmic breathing as a source of healing
- Experience how disturbing emotions always interrupt the flow of breath
Module 3: Mysticism of Sound Mantras & Recitation — The Path of Sound (May 12)
Why are sound and music so appealing to human beings? Indeed, humanity has been given a gift — the mysticism of sound.
In this class, you’ll practice the recitation of sacred phrases… and learn how they can transform your consciousness when coupled with devotion.
By reciting sacred phrases, you can transform your consciousness — and transcend your experience of your inner and outer worlds… even in the midst of turmoil.
In this module, you’ll:
- Discover why sacred sound has profound effects
- Recognize the universality of religious ideals and practice the sacred phrases from many of the world’s greatest mystical traditions
- Understand at a profound level that the soul is music
- Learn how to bring daily mantra practice into your life
- Use the 99 Beautiful Names of God as medicine for your wounds
Module 4: Mysticism of Attitude — Love, Kindness & Compassion and the Practice of Forgiveness (May 26)
— Unknown
— Hazrat
What is your attitude while you’re breathing and chanting?
We’ve been falsely trained to believe that what we do will bring satisfaction and happiness. However, it’s actually how you do things that profoundly opens your heart and allows you to be of great benefit.
During this integration session, you’ll explore how the ability to be in tune with the Infinite can put you on the path to fulfilling your life’s purpose...
In this module, you’ll:
- Recognize how the challenges and struggles of life are really your greatest teachers for transformation
- Explore how to cultivate an inner sense of strength, courage, kindness, compassion, tolerance, forgiveness, patience, gratitude, and integrity
- Discover how to release anger, self-loathing, and jealousy by understanding causes and conditions
- Explore the paradox of living with passion and being at ease with whatever arises
Module 5: Deepening Your Breath Practice — Learning to Be Present With Whatever Arises (June 2)
— Hazrat Inayat Khan, Pir Shabda’s teacher’s teacher
In this session, you’ll return to and deepen the practice of breath to help you strengthen your capacity to be present with whatever arises. Pir Shabda will guide you as you unite your meditation with the breath.
In this module, you’ll:
- Experience a right and left nostril breathing practice to help you make meaning of your condition
- Explore the lunar and solar aspects of the left and right nostril
- Learn why your right nostril’s breath is hot (sun breath) and generates body heat, raises metabolism, and accelerates bodily activities
- Discover the ways that your left nostril’s cool breath (moon breath) lowers the temperature of your body, slows your metabolism, and inhibits bodily activities
- Enhance your decision-making capacity by learning to read the breath
Module 6: Deepening Your Sound Practice — Healing Through Ancient Sounds From Spiritual Lineages (June 9)
As this class opens, Pir Shabda will guide you in a dance for universal peace, as you put spiritual practice in motion.
Drawing on the sacred phrases, scripture, and poetry of the many spiritual traditions of the earth, the dance for universal peace combines chant, music, and evocative movement — creating a living experience of unity, peace, and integration.
This taste of your true nature will unlock the possibility of the deep spiritual revolution that can take place within you...
In this module, you’ll:
- Dive deeper into the 99 Beautiful Names of God as medicine for your life
- Access ancient sound technologies in integrity with experiential spiritual lineages
- How the spiritual lineages you explore can help you understand the infinite nature of God —and discover the divine potential in every soul
- Learn sacred phrases from Hebrew, Arabic, Sanskrit, Aramaic, and Greek
Module 7: Marrying the Dual & Non-Dual — How to Make Sense of Your Human Experience (June 16)
— Rumi
The goal of spiritual practice is to merge yourself with the Oneness of all things. The path toward this Oneness is called surrender because we relinquish the concept of separateness so that we can become the Whole Universe… where everything is interconnected.
In this final class, you’ll explore how to deconstruct the notion of a separate self — of the “I.” You’ll learn to embrace your inner world — your home — as you navigate your outer life experience. And, you’ll discover that honoring mundane tasks of life is equal to peak spiritual moments.
In this module, you’ll:
- Discover what it means to adopt the consciousness that God is everywhere — “La Illaha, Il Allah”
- Learn to practice the path of the lover and the Beloved
- Practice negotiating the gap between your ideals and your current experience as you receive permission to embody the path of the love
The Sufi Breathwork Bonus Collection
In addition to Pir Shabda’s transformative 7-week virtual course, you’ll receive these powerful training sessions. These bonus sessions complement the course and promise to take your understanding and practice to an even deeper level.
Live in Boston
Audio Album of Live Performance From Pir Shabda Kahn
This beautiful live recording, done in Boston at the Music of Life retreat in 2003, features several Dances of Universal Peace songs, some teachings and stories, and of course a few wonderful zikrs.
River of Guidance: An Evening With Pir Shabda Kahn
Audio Album From Pir Shabda Kahn
In this wide-ranging interview, Pir Shabda Kahn chronicles with depth and heart his immersion into a multifaceted life, reflections on his teachers, and the essence of the spiritual journey, including musical excerpts as performer, Zikr leader, and teacher. Pir Shabda talks about his first meetings with Murshid Samuel Lewis, his Tibetan teacher, his music teacher, and his wife. He tells about the early days of the Ruhaniat, the teacher-student relationship, and the path of Sufism. He shares with us his love of music and the Dances of Universal Peace, and how he became Pir.
Becoming the Breath
Video Dialogue With Pir Shabda Kahn; Hosted by Jim Morningstar
In every sacred language, the word for breath and the word for soul is the same word. The natural swing of the breath is the most natural essence of every being.
This dialogue will show you:
Jim Morningstar is a licensed clinical psychologist. He has pioneered the integration of psychotherapy with mind/body techniques such as breathwork and biospiritual energetics. He's the director of Transformations Incorporated, the co-director at the Global Professional Breathwork Alliance, and the founder of the School of Integrative Psychology, the Transformations Breathworker Training Program, and InWellness. The author of five books, his lifelong quest has been to discover and teach the highest quality tools for human transformation.
What People Are Saying About Pir Shabda Kahn…
“... opens the gates of love, wisdom, and music...”
Pir Shabda is a master. In his work he opens the gates of love, wisdom, and music with a big and warm heart. He shows us how to embody the Sufi path of devotion and awakening right where we are.
— Jack Kornfield, bestselling author and teacher in the Vipassana movement in American Theravada Buddhism
“Pir Shabda lights the way for us to embody and uplift our own humanity.”
Pir Shabda Kahn brings a blend of deeply rooted wisdom and playful humor, interwoven with musical genius and ecstatic devotion, to the path of the awakening heart. In modeling spiritual rigor and living a fully human life, Pir Shabda lights the way for us to embody and uplift our own humanity. His teacher, the great Sufi master Murshid Samuel Lewis, was known for his pioneering interspiritual work, which took form as the Dances of Universal Peace. Pir Shabda carries Murshid Sam’s lineage, introducing people around the world to this powerful peacemaking practice.
— Mirabai Starr, Author of Wild Mercy and Mother of God Similar to Fire
“... one of the rare master teachers on the subject of the mysticism of sound and breath.”
Pir Shabda Kahn is one of the rare master teachers on the subject of the mysticism of sound and breath. He brings humor and openness to his teachings.
— Murshida Taj Inayat, senior teacher, The Inayati Order
“Studying with Pir Shabda brings students into deep peace...”
Pir Shabda Kahn brings his decades of dedicated joyful Sufi practice and training, and his studies in many spiritual traditions to his teachings, giving direct transmission of the path beyond words, the underlying reality and truth that pervades all that is. Studying with Pir Shabda brings students into deep peace, loving kindness, and opens the door to the awakened consciousness of the great masters. A delight is in store for all who participate with him as he unveils the wisdom of the ages.
— Lama Palden Drolma, Founder and Senior Lama of Sukhasiddhi Foundation
“[Pir Shabda Kahn teaches] in a way that is both deep and accessible...”
Pir Shabda Kahn is a masterful teacher of Sufism. He brings a sense of grounded ease to all his talks, and always manages to teach in a way that is both deep and accessible, and never absent of fun!
— Pir Netanel Miles-Yépez, Head of the Inayati-Maimuni lineage of Sufism, and author of God Hidden, Whereabouts Unknown
“... masterful teaching with grace and integrity...”
I highly recommend experiencing Pir Shabda Kahn’s masterful teaching with grace and integrity. He has inspired me and many others on the path of fulfilling our creative potential.
— Glen Velez, 4-time Grammy-winning percussionist
“... an exquisite teacher of mysticism...”
Pir Shabda is a maestro of music, an exquisite teacher of mysticism, carrying Sufi lineages, Indian classical raga music, and Tibetan Buddhism. I am blessed to have him as a teacher for over a decade. Don’t miss this chance to learn from this awakened master transmitting his message through love, breath, and sound.
— Christine Stevens, Author, speaker, drummer, and music therapist
Join the Global Community
The Mystical Power of Sufi Breathwork, Mantras & Sacred Sounds offers some of the most advanced online teachings available, within a thriving, global community of learning and practice.
Join fellow students and practitioners to support and inspire each other as you integrate the teachings and practices Pir Shabda Kahn will share in this powerful training.
You’ll be part of an international community that’s on the leading edge of a global movement of people manifesting a world grounded in principles of cooperation, harmony, and reverence for all of life.
Here’s What You’ll Receive
Seven 90-Minute Class Sessions With Pir Shabda Kahn
Experience a rare opportunity to be mentored by and learn from Pir Shabda Kahn — teacher, performer, and spiritual director of the Sufi Ruhaniat International — from the comfort of your own home. Each class session includes a live streaming video option and guides you to discover specific skills and abilities to find your true essence of inner light and joy through breath, chanting, and sound medicine. Course sessions are on Tuesdays at 11:00am Pacific.
Seven Video Recordings of Class Sessions
After each class, the video will be available for you to download or stream in high-quality format. You’ll never have to worry about missing a session, and you can watch anytime and anywhere — on any connected device and at your convenience.
Seven Audio Recordings of Class Sessions
After each class, the audio will be available for you to download in high-quality MP3 format. You’ll never have to worry about missing a session, and you can listen anytime and anywhere — on any connected device and at your convenience.
Seven PDF Transcripts of Class Sessions
In addition to the high-quality videos and MP3 audios, you’ll also receive the entire class transcription in PDF format after each session is completed. You can then review, print, and highlight the most important insights and practices you were given.
Seven 30-Minute Interactive Group Practice Sessions
With live class attendance, there will be a 30-minute optional interactive practice session directly following each class. You’ll be placed in an intimate group with several other participants on the conference call to interact, share, and do additional practices with to help further integrate the weekly lessons. Practice sessions are available for live attendance only, not recorded for playback. If you’re unable to attend the calls live, the Facebook online community group allows you to connect with each other and find alternative times to interact.
Interactive Exercises and Questions for Each Lesson
Between class sessions, you’ll have the option of completing related exercises, practicing new tools, and answering questions to accelerate your learning and integrate each week’s lesson.
Online Community
Our exclusive Facebook online community is the perfect place to continue your discovery process after each class. Here, you can continue the discussion about your course materials and interact with your fellow students to take your exploration to an even deeper level.
The Sufi Breathwork Bonus Collection
- Live in Boston
Audio Album of Live Performance From Pir Shabda Kahn - River of Guidance: An Evening With Pir Shabda Kahn
Audio Album From Pir Shabda Kahn - Becoming the Breath
Video Dialogue With Pir Shabda Kahn; Hosted by Jim Morningstar
An Unprecedented Opportunity to Join The Mystical Power of Sufi Breathwork, Mantras & Sacred Sounds Virtual Training
We feel honored that Pir Shabda Kahn has chosen to partner with The Shift Network to offer this exclusive LIVE online training. This is a rare opportunity to interact directly with the spiritual director of the Sufi Ruhaniat International, whose powerful insights and pioneering work are helping us heal and awaken ourselves and our world.
If you’re serious about finding unshakable happiness and relaxation that’s not dependent on your life circumstances, you owe it to yourself, your loved ones, and our world to take this one-of-a-kind training.
If you’re ready to take the next step in evolving yourself, click the register button below to reserve your space now.
Your Satisfaction Is 100% Guaranteed!
Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed! If you don’t absolutely LOVE The Mystical Power of Sufi Breathwork, Mantras & Sacred Sounds with Pir Shabda Kahn — or don’t feel that it meets your needs — please contact our friendly Support Team on or before May 12, 2020 and we’ll happily issue you a refund.
About Pir Shabda Kahn
Pir Shabda Kahn has been a disciple of Sufism since 1969. He is a direct disciple of Murshid Samuel L. Lewis (Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti), and he worked closely with the great American mystic Joe Miller. Pir Shabda is currently the Pir (spiritual director) of the Sufi Ruhaniat International and the director of the Chisti Sabri School of Music.
After living in a community with Baba Ram Dass on the East Coast, Pir Shabda met Murshid Sam and moved to San Francisco in 1969. In the fall of 1970, Pir Shabda had the good fortune to travel with Murshid Sam for five weeks as his personal assistant on the East Coast, which helped deepen his relationship with his teacher and the Path. He received his spiritual name from Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan in 1971, after Murshid Sam’s passing.
In 1972, Pir Shabda was initiated by Pandit Pran Nath, the Master North Indian classical vocalist, and began the daily practice of Raga singing in the Kirana style. Pandit Pran Nath, a Sufi mystic, requested that Pir Shabda carry on the 800-year-old oral transmission under the name of the Chisti Sabri School of Music, now an umbrella for teaching vocal music and performing Raga.
In 1984, Pir Shabda became a disciple of the illustrious 12th Tai Situpa Rinpoche, a venerated Tibetan Buddhist incarnate lama of the Kagyu Lineage.
Pir Shabda has appeared as a musician in concerts, including Visions for a Perfect World at New York’s St. John the Divine Cathedral. He has also performed for His Holiness the Dalai Lama, for New Music America in Chicago, at Delhi University Music School, and at Shivaratri Festival in New Delhi. He is one of a handful of Americans who have dedicated themselves to carrying on the legacy of the treasure of North Indian classical vocal music.
Pir Shabda married his wife Tamam in 1976, and they made their home in San Rafael, California. They have a son and daughter-in-law, two young granddaughters, and many godchildren.
As Pir of the Sufi Ruhaniat International, Pir Shabda directs the Jamiat Khas (the Ruhaniat leader circle), directs the SRI Board of Trustees, and is the spiritual director for the Dances of Universal Peace worldwide. He has a regular zikr meeting in Marin County, California, and travels the world throughout the year spreading the Sufi Message of love, harmony, and beauty. He brings warmth, humor, and clarity in his efforts to help seekers on their path to awakening.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What’s a virtual course?
A: It’s a great way to engage live and pre-recorded teachings and each other from the comfort of your home! All you need is a computer, mobile device, or telephone. If there’s more than one person in your household taking the course, you’ll each need your own connection. We use Zoom videoconferencing to make it just like an in-person event, where you can ask questions and deepen your exploration of the course themes.
There’s no additional charge for connecting to Zoom with your computer or mobile device. Please note that dialing Zoom from your telephone is a toll call; your telephone service provider will charge you according to your existing long-distance calling plan. International access numbers are available.
“I’ve never seen a course so well put together ever...”
I had never participated before in an online course. The packaging, presentation, inclusion, and Facebook postings created a wonderful, safe cocoon within which to participate. I’ve never seen a course so well put together ever — not in all the years of taking college classes — and I had my doubts about doing an online course. The wealth of organization and ease of learning materials and support made this fun as well.
— Claudia F., Medford, Massachusetts
Q: Can I get benefit from the course if I miss the live classes?
A: Absolutely! You can download the recordings and transcripts of all course sessions from our online media archive, so you never need to worry about missing live calls. You can also engage the full community and leaders on our private online community group.
Q: Can you tell me about the private online community group?
A: We’ll have a private online community group for all course participants on Facebook that will support you in making connections with others, sharing insights, engaging in discussions, and completing homework assignments that can supplement your transformational journey. You’ll have the ability to share your experiences, projects, and growth throughout the course.
Q: Are there scholarships available for this training?
A: Yes, we always make a certain percentage of spaces available for partial scholarships, giving preference to those in developing countries or doing important but underpaid work to which they can apply the training material immediately. If you’d like to apply for a scholarship, please review our guidelines, which include a link to our online application form.
Q: What’s your refund policy?
A: Your satisfaction with The Shift Network and this course is our highest priority! We offer a satisfaction guarantee so that you can sample the course risk-free. The deadline to receive a full refund is May 12, 2020. To request a refund, please click on this refund request form and submit your request. Your refund will be processed within five business days and we’ll send you an email confirming your refund. However, we’d love to have a chance to address and resolve your concerns first. If there’s something we can assist you with, please email us at support@theshiftnetwork.com and we’ll be happy to help! (No refund requests accepted after the above date or with scholarship awards.)
Q: How can I reach Customer Support?
A: Please visit our Customer Support Center, where you should be able to find the answer to your question or the solution to your problem. And if you can’t, you can submit an online request form and we’ll get right back to you.
