Dhikr (Universal Sufism)
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Universal Sufis practice particular forms of Dhikr, otherwise spelt Zikr or Zikar. Dhikr is literally "remembering." It is the religious ceremony, or act of devotion, which is practised by the various Sufi orders.
Universal Sufi Dhikr differs from the Islamic form of Dhikr, widening the scope of the term to encompass remembrance of the spiritual in all forms. Dhikr formulas are usually given specifically to each individual murid, and their formulas are kept private.
The Sikh belief in Nam is very closely linked to the Universal Sufi belief "that God existed before the creation of the universe. The name of God is therefore beyond the language structure created by mankind. The Nam is the internal rhythm that a person experiences is the true nature of God."
There are any number of practices from the various traditions which focus on energy and kundalini. However there seems to be a danger of putting the cart before the horse and losing one's way. Hazrat Inayat Khan advised that the best way is to focus on God and to let enlightenment follow, as opposed to focusing on enlightenment in order to find God . So rather than focusing on kundalini one might focus on God. Perhaps, then, do the practice which aides in kundalini, but only with a God focus. Thus this first intention may aide in the balanced unfoldment of spiritual attributes.
Focusing on God can be difficult for some. Here the Sufi way is to focus on the highest ideal of God one can conceptualize. And even perhaps to conceptualize is an intermediate step. Once the heart is sufficiently open, it is perhaps easier to feel or even sense God than it is to conceptualize God. God love is something that can be felt and even sensed. Experienced. To stay in tune with this is perhaps the Sufi way. To stay in tune with this and then to let the spiritual attributes follow as Jesus said. So perhaps the best practice is attunement to God love, then all the other practices will facilitate growth from that in proper order. Even to love God is an exercise in subject-object experience. Though this aides growth very much and could be employed as a first step, the Sufi tries to go beyond this subject-object love and into this love. The Sufi says God is love, lover, and beloved. In other words God is the object, God is the subject, and God is the love experienced between the two. So definitely the practice is to be it, to be in it. Perhaps this is the primary practice.
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