Pir Zia was born and raised in the culture of modern America, although in an ambiance of Indian mysticism. He lived and studied with the Dalai Lama at age 14, and has studied with the Pirs of the Chishti lineage in India. He combines these diverse influences in his being and in his teaching. In the true spirit of the message of Inayat Khan, Pir Zia brings together not only leaders of different Sufi traditions, but also representatives of the world’s faiths.

Aziza Scott, M. ED., has been a student of the retreat process for over twenty years and serves as the head of the Esoteric School and as Director of the Retreat Guide Training Program of the Sufi Order International, working closely with first Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan and now Pir Zia. She has many years of experience leading individual and group retreats and conducting workshops in the United States, Europe and India. Aziza runs a retreat center in Nottingham, New Hampshire.

Sri Karunamayee is world-renowned for her soul-empowering singing. Steeped in music from her early years, she began formal studies in North Indian Classical singing with Pandit Vinay Chandra Maudgalya, and refined her music under the revered tutelage of Kirana Gharana maestro, Pandit Pran Nath. Sri Karunamayee has served as an innovative music educator from primary to postgraduate levels. She was also an ‘A’ classed broadcast artist of All India Radio for many years. Music has always served as her spiritual compass throughout life. In 1966, she entered Sri Aurobindo Ashram, where she founded Mothers’ Temple of the Fine Arts (Matri Kala Mandir), and where she has supported the daily meditations with music for 40 years.

Allaudin Ottinger is an active proponent of the Peace through the Arts movement. Working toward this ideal he has overseen Dances of Universal peace/Zikr and Sufi meeting in Kansas City, MO since 1979. He is recognized as a senior teacher in the Sufi Ruhaniat International and as a mentor in the DUP network. Doing this work he has led camps, seminars and retreats worldwide. As a professional musician he has offered energy and talent in a wide variety of settings, including therapeutic, educational, recording and performance based events. Spring 2005 will see the release of his Sufi music CD "In the Everywhere and Always".

Taj Inayat is the Vice President of the Sufi Order International, and the long time spiritual companion of Pir Vilayat. She is a co-founder of Sufi Retreats, a process of unfoldment based on the teachings of Hazrat Inayat Khan and the insights of modern psychology.

Sharif Munawwir Graham is the editor in chief of the Complete Works of Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan. He has guided group and individual retreats for many years, using his vast store of knowledge of the Sufi tradition, together with his sense of humor to quicken our inner life.