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Part 1: Thursday Evening Intro

Pir Shabda introduces the topic of the weekend: "Opening to the Inner Life," explaining that the first birth brings us into these bodies, while the second marks the beginning of the quest to awaken the inner life. Pir outlines the qualities of the spiritual life and suggests that preparing ourselves for death is preparing ourselves for life, and vice versa. The session concludes with the group learning "Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh..."

Part 2: The Purpose of Life

Pir Shabda asks participants to sense into their deepest intentions, to clarify the purpose of life. He carries us through the topic of the universal wound, separation, and he describes the qualities of awakening as relaxation and effortlessness and shows how these result in freedom from attachment and aversion. Pir reflects on his 40-plus years of practice and how that helped him to meet the death of his son, Solomon, and he concludes with some descriptions of the Tibetan bardos.

Part 3: Death as Presence of God

Pir speaks about value of reciting opposite and complementary qualities, emphasizing development of strength and courage via practice of the Names associated with those qualities. He offers gratitude to those involved with Physicians of the Heart, then introduces equanimity as the next theme for this session. Pir Shabda relates experiences with SAM and Pir Vilayat and concludes with acknowledgment of our precious family and shares reflections on learning of son Solomon's death upon arriving to India.

Part 4: Breath & Negative Emotions

Pir reviews relaxation and effortlessness, "Easetarianism," adding that learning from the natural breath could be one's sole practice. Beginning with belly breath w/darood, moving to heart w/fikr, exploration and discussion of breath and emotions follows, including reminiscence of SAM's use of fiery expression - without separateness. Pir suggests forgiveness of others and self as a topic of study for every mystic: as all unskillfulness results from "causes and conditions," develop compassion; make friends with yourself and trust your own guidance.

Part 5: Wazaif, Feeling at Home

Pir Shabda encourages us to feel at home wherever we are and introduces the all-embracing and gently penetrating practice of Ya Rahim / Ya Ra'uf as antedote for the "common wound" of separation and for individual wounds we may habitually protect. He leads the group in topics related to preparation for dying, as well as living, with discussion about forgiveness, affection, and completion of the inner life's purpose: to make friends with whatever arises and to awaken with compassion for the sake of all beings, including oneself.