oday is the second Urs of Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan, who led the Sufi Order International for many years and is dearly beloved by our community. There's a formal service, but I prefer to stay home and remember him in my own way. An Urs, by the way, is a kind of celebration on the day someone has died, to symbolize their union with the Beloved. It's not like, "yay, they're dead" but more an appreciation of their life - I think there is always some sadness if you knew or loved the person, but also recognition that their soul has continued on from this place to a greater (and more mysterious) existence. In India, where Pir Vilayat is buried, they will probably do a procession of the cloth (chaddar) covering his tomb from his father's tomb (dargah) to his, and say some prayers, and perhaps have some music and food.
I didn't know Pir Vilayat well personally, but he has always been a large figure in my life. He formed the spiritual community where I was born (and where Suluk is held) and was my parents' spiritual teacher, and mine as well up to a certain point. He named me (there's a funny story about that). He also initiated me into the Sufi Order when I was ready, and I attended many of his seminars and classes.
One of my favorite teachings of his that has really helped me over the years is about the past. He used to talk about riding on top of the train in India, and how that train is like our concept of time - that as it moves forward, one can never go back. Yet if you're on top of that train and you're looking down the track at where you've been, life continues on behind you. People move about. An elephant may cross the track. And similarly, one can reach back to the past to heal an old wound, or resurrect a lost friendship. Our concept of time doesn't need to limit us to feeling like nothing can be done, that it's too late. I always thought that was so beautiful.
If you'd like to read more about Pir Vilayat, here is a piece that his son and successor, Pir Zia Inayat-Khan, wrote on the occasion of his first Urs one year ago.