12. What do you mean by “remembrance?”
“Remembrance” in Sufism is any practice that affirms unity. The dervishes say that the only true sin is forgetfulness - falling into the illusion of separation. All harm that men and women do to themselves, to each other and to the planet proceeds from a failure to recognize the innate interconnectedness of all creation and the Creator.

13. Rites of passage—Initiation (What do they mean?)
The Sufi Order is constituted of an outer body as well as of an inner spirit. As an outer body it has its Khanqah, its branches (Concentrations), and its Lodges (Centers).

The inner working of the Order is regulated in this way: there are four circles of initiates: the study circle, the advanced circle, the inner circle, the higher circle. One passes gradually through these by initiations. There is one initiation called the Sufi, where the obligation to the Order is finished. Then if one wishes to continue to help humanity, one is authorized and initiated to work in that direction as a Khalif or a Murshid.

The condition of initiation is that every mureed is trusted with certain exercises or teachings. The mureed is expected to keep the vow of secrecy and to keep these not only from non-members but also from other initiates, because an exercise is a prescription meant for a particular person and that person cannot pass it on to another. Initiation is a trust that the Murshid gives to his mureeds; he expects sincerity from them. Trust and confidence become a power in the mureed, which enables one to proceed in one’s spiritual journey. The study of a certain philosophy alone is not enough; there must be sincerity in life behind it all. Sincerity must be the first thing in the path of spirituality. Jesus Christ termed this faith.

    — Hazrat Inayat Khan

14. What does the Sufi Order International say about drugs?
There are some paths which use certain substances as a sacrament, and there are certainly individuals who have realized deep insights on these paths. However, the majority opinion within Sufism does not consider these things useful. Because a substance is extrinsic, added from the outside, it distorts the perception as much as it seems to open it, and often leads to a fascination with phenomena instead of leading to the liberation of the soul.

Worse, since the subtle centers (chakras, etc.) are artifically excited, drug use in combination with Sufi spiritual practices causes strange and uncontrollable side-effects, and the subtle centers become deadened over time. Because of this, initiates in the Sufi Order International are asked to abstain from drug use.

If you have other questions, or want more information, write us at secretariat@sufiorder.org.