I had the honor of attending the Manhattan premiere of the new documentary film The Way of the Heart (2010) on the life and spiritual heritage of the Indian musician and Sufi mystic Hazrat Inayat Khan (1882-1927) at New York City’s Open Center. Only a director profoundly fluid in both realms of music and the spiritual might approach the film’s multi-dimensional and extraordinary subject with any degree of success. Fortunately, this mesmerizing and elegantly-rendered work was made by the British filmmaker Mischa Scorer. Already counted in his filmography are insightful meditations on Schubert, Chopin, the Vatican, and the Bible. Scorer’s more than forty-year career as a multi-award-winning producer and director of documentary films and series has been recognized by an International Emmy, a CableACE, and a Peabody Award.

   In 1910 at the behest of his spiritual teacher, Inayat Khan was challenged to “harmonize the East and West with the music of his soul.” Within the span of a mere seventeen years, he traveled the world extensively, attracting innumerable followers, and establishing many centers, while leaving behind a wealth of teachings. The disseminating of his all-embracing Message of spiritual unity was well in advance of today’s interfaith approach sometimes erroneously considered a more recent perspective.  

   The film is greatly enhanced by interviews with important figures of those integral in moving Inayat Khan’s teachings forward in the 21^st century at this, the centenary of his spiritual migration. Key among them is his sons, the now-deceased Vilayat Inayat Khan, and Hidayat Inayat Khan who continues the work in his early 90’s. While the former expresses unabashed loving reverence for his father in previously filmed clips, the latter describes Inayat Khan not only as a majestic, paternal figure, but as a friend with a loving personality. Zia Inayat Khan, son and successor of Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan, as well as current president of the Sufi Order International, speaks eloquently of his grandfather legacy, known as “Murshid” (Arabic for “spiritual master teacher”) by his adherents; the compatibility of the Sufi path with the world’s major religions; and the relevancy of the still-vibrant Message of spiritual harmony today.

   Shot at a variety of international locations, the documentary is highlighted by the inclusion of many rarely-seen images of Inayat Khan. For this viewer, perhaps the most powerful moment of the film occurs towards its finale when we are given the opportunity of observing Pir Zia individually greet celebrants of a Universal Worship service in which the major faiths are represented. His soul-filled glance and serene smile were almost overwhelmingly unbearable in their intense beauty. The visceral potency of this vision made manifest and confirmed the reality of Inayat Khan’s evergreen Message of love, harmony, and beauty today and for the future.