Online Programs
The Open Path
An In-Depth Online Training
With Pir Elias Amidon
Coming October 2025 — May 2026
Registration now open
The Open Path is a living path of natural “enlightenment” that belongs to all of us. As a discipline, it is dedicated, first of all, to the direct experience of our “natural state,” a state known as pure awareness, selflessness, nonduality, Oneness, rigpa, original spirit, and many other names. As recognition of our natural state takes root in us, we experience release from our insecurities, self-doubt, and judgments of others, and are better able to respond spontaneously to whatever comes up for us with equanimity, creativity, and a kind heart.
The training will be comprised of three 2-month seminars, separated by a month break in-between each seminar. Each 2-month seminar will include five online sessions, held on alternate Sundays. All sessions will be recorded so that if one is missed it can be experienced as soon as convenient. While Pir Elias’s book, The Open Path – Recognizing Nondual Awareness, will be a primary resource during the training, the seminars will not follow the book chapter by chapter but will instead create a unique weaving of this profound material.
First Steps — This initial seminar in the series will be held during October and November 2025. Here we will be introduced to the natural state through a series of “pointings-out” by Pir Elias along with practices that serve this fundamental recognition.
Opening into Openness — The second seminar will be held in January and February 2026. While evocation of the natural state of unconditioned awareness will continue throughout all the seminars, this second seminar will be devoted primarily to practices of self-inquiry and the release of fixations and self-stories that tend to obstruct recognition.
Being Human — The third seminar, April–May 2026, will focus essentially on what all this means for how we live our lives — in our intimate relationships, work and service life, parenting, aging, and dying. Here we will open to the essence of what it is to love and to “doing the beautiful” — as in Rumi’s phrase: “Let the beauty you love be what you do.”
The Open Path on Waking Up
After a year of waiting, Pir Elias' special presentation of "The Open Path", an audio series adapted from his books Free Medicine and Love's Drum, is now available on the Waking Up app.
This program anchors the listener in some of Pir Elias' central teachings, while inviting an open receptivity and acceptance of what is flowing into one's own life right now. It also offers a prelude to the broader themes of The Open Path Training, which will begin accepting early registrations on July 15 (more below).
The team at Waking Up has graciously offered us a free trial link, so that anyone who does not yet have access to the app can listen to this series. Click below to download the Waking Up app and start your free trial.
Every Thursday
Every Thursday we hold half-hour sessions of online communal meditation at 11:00 AM Pacific, 12:00 PM Mountain, 1:00 PM Central, 2:00 PM Eastern, 7:00 PM UK, and 8:00 PM EU. All are welcome.
To receive reminder emails with each Thursday's Zoom link, please visit our Contact page, and indicate you would like to be added to the Every Thursday email list.
Each Thursday session during the month has a different form. There is no charge for these Every Thursday offerings. Your support through donations of any size are always appreciated. For ways to donate, please visit our Donate page.
First Thursday: ALANKARA
An alankara is a classic style of Sufi communal contemplation. Gentle meditative music is played softly, and every couple of minutes the music is faded into silence when a short aphorism or saying is read by the Alankara leader. Then the music is resumed, allowing us to contemplate together the saying and its resonant meaning. The Alankara leader will have selected these sayings from teachings of the world’s spiritual traditions and poetry, usually relating to a single theme. A powerful aspect of these Alankara contemplations is the sense that a group of us, however physically distant we might be, are opening to the meaning of these sayings at the same time. Our communion is with both the significance of the sayings and with each other’s simultaneous presence. The Alankara sessions will last about 30 minutes. Our video cameras will not be open – a simple photo of a scene from nature will be on our screens to reduce distraction.
Second Thursday: SAMA
with Omar and Suzanne Inayat-Khan
These communal musical meditations are unique to the Sufi Way. Sama are deep, harmonious zikrs sung in unison, each with its own evocative theme, such as the Zikr of Gratitude, the Zikr of Becoming, the Zikr of Longing, the Zikr of the Stream of Love, the Zikr of Intimacy, the Zikr of Peace, and many others. As with Alankaras, our video cameras are not open during the Sama sessions, which last for about 30 minutes.
Third Thursday: SHARING SILENCE
with Murshida Kunderke Noverraz
Sharing silence together in a Zoom Meeting can create a subtle quality of communion — a communion beyond words and thought. These sessions of Sharing Silence will begin with a few words of guidance to help us settle and relax into the present moment. Our video cameras will not be open — a simple nature photo will be on-screen to reduce distraction. Our silence together will continue for approximately 20 minutes.
Fourth Thursday: A TIME FOR QUESTIONS
with Murshid Puran
Our communion will take a different form in these sessions — rather than being meditative, they will be a chance for you to ask Pir Elias questions on any subject. The sessions will not begin with a talk or be focused on a specific theme; rather this is a time for you to bring up any questions you might have about your practice or life experience, the Sufi Way or anything else. Our video cameras and mics will be open to facilitate these sessions, which may extend beyond a half-hour if necessary.