In this interview I am joined by Gregory Blann: mystic, artist, author, and initiate of the Inayati and Halveti-Jerrahi orders of Sufism.

Gregory reveals the rich history and practices of Sufism, including meditation techniques, Zikr, and the dream practices of the Halveti-Jerrahi.

Gregory also recounts his own spiritual journey from Evangelical Christianity to Gurdjieff to encounters with great Sheiks of the 20th century such as Pir Vilayat Khan, Sheik Nur, and Muzaffer Efendi.

Gregory also explains the 4 Levels of Religion, connections between Sufism and Kabbalah, and discusses the possibility of an allegorical reading of the Gospels.

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Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/ep96-gregory-blann-the-garden-of-mystic-love/

Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.

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Topics include:

00:00 - Intro

00:45 - The history and context of Sufism

12:41 - The 4 levels of religion

17:14 - The ‘Verse of the Sword’ and the inner path

27:34 - Inclusiveness of Sufism

32:44 - Are there connections between Sufism and Indic Tantric thought?

38:58 - Zikr practice of Sufism

48:57 - Gregory’s spiritual journey

53:29 - Gurdjieff’s work and encountering Sufism

1:02:35 - Initiating into the Inayati Order of the West with Pir Vilayat Khan

1:05:25 - About Pir Vilayat Khan

1:10:32 - About Lex Hixon aka Sheik Nur

1:20:07 - Initiation into the Halveti-Jerrahi Order with Sheik Nur

1:20:49 - Granted permissions of the Sheik by the Grand Sheik Muzaffer Efendi in Istanbul

1:21:24 -Retreat practice and the history of the Halveti-Jerrahi Order of Sufism

1:30:12 - Muzaffer Efendi and the transmission of Turkish Sufism to the West

1:36:34 - Levels of initiation as a Sufi Sheik

1:42:45 - Dream practices of the Halveti-Jerrahi Order

1:44:51 - Sufism and Kabbalah

1:47:20 - Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi and Jewish Renewal

1:51:31 - Reading the Gospels on an allegorical level

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To find out more about Gregory, visit:

- https://blanng.wixsite.com/

For more interviews, videos, and more visit:

- www.guruviking.com

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James