Pir Shabda Kahn – The Mystical Power Of Sufi Breathwork, Mantras & Sacred Sounds

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

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

The breath is the current which is established between all planes of our existence. Its current runs from the life unseen to the life on the surface, thus uniting spirit and matter both… Rhythm is the nature of motion, and motion is the nature of life. Life is not possible without motion, and motion is not possible without rhythm. It is rhythmic motion which keeps the whole universe going, and the same motion is the hidden secret of our lives, as we are a miniature universe within ourselves. Our breath is both the cause and effect of this rhythmic motion.
— 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

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

Forgiveness is giving up the hope for a better past.
— Unknown
The children of suffering are the bringers of joy.
— 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

I went in search of the soul. I found that I was looking for myself. And finally when I awakened, I found that if there ever was anything, I was that. Whatever there is now, I am that. Whatever there will be in the future, I am that. And there was no end to my happiness and joy!
— 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

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

The Beloved is All, the lover, only a veil, not a real thing.
— 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:

How to approach living in the breath
Why the loss of the rhythm of breath is the chief cause of every dis-ease
Ways to free the natural swing of the breath
How to make a habit of a natural rhythmic breath to unlock health, wisdom, and your ability to be of benefit
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.

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.

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.