The Caravan of the Message is the Vancouver centre of the Sufi Order International. The Sufi Order International was founded by Hazrat Inayat Khan while he was travelling in the West from 1910 – 1926.

In India, Khan was born into a family of talented musicians and he too attained great musician heights – the patron of music, the Nizam of Hyderabad, awarded him the greatest musical title in India: Tansen of India.

However lofty his musical achievements, he knew that he had to follow the mystical inclinations inherent in his nature.

Interest in Sufism took him to Ajmer, to the shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti and eventually to his teacher, Murshid Mohammed Abu Hashim Madani. Murshid initiated him into the Chishti Order, the Sufi school which makes great use of music to soften and warm the heart.

Hazrat Inayat Khan coined the term, Universal Sufism, a universalist spiritual movement based on unity of all people and religions and the presence of spiritual guidance in all people, places and things. Universal Sufism has its roots in the traditional framework of Islam but does not exist within it and is characterised by respect for other devotional traditions.

It is with these roots that the Caravan of the Message helps to share the Message of Murshid Hazrat Inayat Khan in Vancouver: to spread the Message of Unity and promote the awakening of humanity to the divinity in all.

Activities at the Caravan, more often than not, include music and singing to help open and uplift the heart.

Please join us as we joyfully explore our Divine nature and unity using the practices of Universal Sufism.

Amir Peter O’Loughlin

has been a teacher in the Sufi Order International for over 25 years, and currently is its National Representative in Canada. In addition to his roles in the Sufi Order, Amir is a musician and recording artist whose album “Merhaba” (with Seemi Ghazi and others) has garnered praise in both North America and Europe. In his daily professional life, Amir is a psychotherapist in North Vancouver.

Zainab Paula Ford

is a coordinator, cherag (Universal Worship minister) and healing conductor in the Sufi Order International. She has brought her fine attunment to our Vancouver classes for over 25 years. After having worked as an educator for most of her career, Zainab is now working for Seva Canada as well as on projects with her partner, photographer Brian Harris.