Fazal Inayat-Khan (Urdu: فضل عنایت خان ) (July 20, 1942 Montélimar, France – September 26, 1990 London, England), also known as Frank Kevlin, was the son of Hidayat Inayat Khan and grandson of Hazrat Inayat Khan.
A mystic, poet, psychotherapist and publisher, he was a magnetic and controversial genius who provoked both lasting affection and deep antipathy, sometimes simultaneously.[1]
An inspiring speaker and teacher, the Summer Workcamps, Summer Experiences, and many workshops, trips, and retreats he led frequently incorporated transformative experiences, sometimes disturbing, sometimes delightful. These and the use of chilla (personally focused challenges) reflected traditional Sufi methods and yet were new and fully grounded in the late 20th century Western culture in which he primarily worked. Perhaps nothing exemplified this more than the motorcycle adventures he led in India. These were weeks long, open ended journeys throughout the subcontinent where the ostensible destination (say an ashram in Madras) was just the placeholder for the true destination – the self.
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From 1968 to 1982 he was head of the International Sufi Movement[2].
He held that Sufism has three aspects: it is non-definitive, inclusive, and experiential -
This unique yet universal approach to Sufism is carried on today by many of his closest friends and followers in the work of The Sufi Way
Two collections of his lectures have been published: "Old thinking, new thinking: The Sufi prism"[3] and "Modern soefisme : over creatieve verandering en spirituele groei (Modern Sufism: on creative change and spiritual growth)"[4].
Financial constraints led him to earn a living in publishing and psychotherapy. Finding that his family name influenced people's perception of his secular work, he changed his name legally to Frank Kevlin.[5]
As a psychotherapist and early promoter of Neuro Linguistic Programming he was the main motivating force behind the creation of the Association for Neuro Linguistic Programming and the inspiration for the Neuro Linguistic Psychotherapy and Counselling Association[6].
Born in Vichy France to a Dutch mother and half Indian, half American father with British nationality, he was brought up speaking Hindi, Dutch, English and French. He went to University in California.
His challenging and evocative poetry is occasionally performed privately by his followers and has been used successfully for prisoner rehabilitation at one of Britain's high security prisons.[7][8] It remains unpublished.
"You can always love more."
"Sufism has always changed, and that's why it is always the same."[9]
"Everything matters, nothing matters."
"Sufism is a call, a cry to awaken, to the minds who are ready, to the human beings who have slept enough, but to those who still want to sleep, it is merely a lullaby along in their dream."[10]
"My mind is limited. But my heart is not, I hope."
"... minds are not made to agree, but to express beauty ..."[11]
"Sufism, then, is an attempt to bring us to the point at which we have the freedom, the courage, to look at things as a baby does, without foreknowledge"
"Many people are interested in meditation, but not so many are interested in computer programming. Yet computer programming is so similar that you could call it meditation."
"Reality is a symbol."[12]