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Another aspect of our work is the Universal Worship Service,
which was created by Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan to promote
a deeper understanding and appreciation of the diverse religious
traditions of the world: both in the beauty of their distinctions
and differences, externally, and in the transformative and healing
power of their inner Unity...all coming from the same Source.
Conducted by ministers called Cherags (Lamps of the Message), the
Service honors nine of world's major religious tradtions--the Goddess
Tradition, Hinduism, Taoism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, the Native
Traditions of the world, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
For each tradition, a candle is lit, a selection from the sacred
scriptures is read, and a spiritual practice or Dance
of Universal Peace is led, engaging the hearts, minds, and
bodies of the participants with the Living Transmission of the particular
Divine Quality or Aspect manifesting through that religion, such
as Wisdom, Self-Sacrifice, Purity, etc.
In addition to the nine traditions represented on the altar, a
tenth candle is lit for the Way of Illumination, the Spiritual Path,
honoring all those, known and unknown, who have held aloft the Light
of Truth throughout the darkness of human ignorance. |