Initiation

Initiation is a mutual commitment by a student and a teacher, representing a school, to take steps together along a developmental path. The student commits to studying in the school, and the school takes the responsibility to teach the initiate through a customized program along the milestones of the path it offers. A school that offers initiation, like IAM, must have a course of study that is varied and flexible enough to accommodate a wide variety of types of students, and a map of the path along which the students will be lead. A school that only has one kind of practice, or that does not have a categorization of the types of students, or that does not have a map of the stages of adult development, cannot assume the responsibility for the student, and therefor doesn't give initiation.

Initiation is not a prerequisite for any course that IAM offers. All of IAM's courses are open to anyone, and may be selected as desired, considering the prerequisites. The path of initiation is different - the teacher recommends a sequence of courses depending on the type and stage of the student, using IAM's course material, and leads each student through a process of advancement, to graduation. (The customized approach we offer through the Mentoring Program is also available without initiation, but the responsibility for advancement remains soley with the student.)

Initiation, by Susanna Bair

Our goal for you is not initiation in IAM. We offer it if that is your wish. The goal of IAM is to come to a closer understanding of who you are, through experiential spiritual practice and spiritual discourse and applications to your life. Initiation in IAM is a spiritual linkage to Hazrat Inayat Khan and to the spiritual government of this world. This linkage does not happen by itself, but is given when one asks. It is useful for protection, guidance, finding one's purpose in life, and last not least, consciously asking for a spiritual home. A place to belong and to connect to. Place, person, time are interchangeable in this realm as they are not existent beyond the physical reality. That is why we practice with the Heart, as the heart makes the transition from the physical to the nonphysical experiential through practice. We find the teaching of HIK most inspiring and also actually possible to experience.

Initiation, by Hazrat Inayat Khan

Initiation by a spiritual teacher means both a trust given by the teacher to the pupil, and a trust given by the pupil to the teacher. Therefore initiation means initiation on the part of the student and on the part of the teacher, a step forward on the part of both.

The mystical path is the most subtle path to tread. The relationship between teacher and pupil is too subtle for words to express.

There are no fixed rules to follow on this path. For every person there is a special rule. But there is one law which applies to everything in life: sincerity, which is the only thing that is asked by a teacher of a pupil, for truth is not the portion of the insincere.

It may be asked whether it is desirable for every soul to take initiation. The word "initiation" and the associated word "initiative" suggest going forward, so the answer is that progress is life and standing still is death. Whatever be our grade of evolution, it is always advisable to try to go forward, be it in business or in a profession, in society or in political life, in religion or in spiritual advancement. No doubt there is a danger in being too enthusiastic.

No one can give spiritual knowledge to another, for this is something which is within every heart. What the teacher can do is to kindle the light which is hidden in the heart of the student.

The life that one ought to live may be explained in a few words: a tendency to friendship. This is expressed in the form of tolerance and forgiveness, in the form of service and trust. In whatever form you may express it, this is the central theme: the constant desire to prove your love for humanity, to be the friend of all.