Muiz was formally initiated on the path
of sufism in 1975, within the Sufi Islamia Ruhaniat Society (now
known as Sufi Ruhaniat International), certified as a Leader of the
Dances of Universal Peace in 1979, and raised to the post of Sheikh
(teacher) in 1996. The Ruhaniat was established by Murshid S.A.M.(Sufi
Ahmed Murad, aka Samuel L. Lewis) in the late '60s (see Lineage
of the Dances on the Sufism page), and is an eclectic, and particularly
American, embodiment of several of the more traditional Indian and middle
eastern sufi schools of experiential spiritual growth and development.
For 6 years in San Francisco, under the direct guidance of his two initiators,
both senior disciples of Murshid S.A.M., Murshid Wali Ali Meyer
and Murshid Moineddin Jablonski (the spiritual successor of Murshid
S.A.M. and head of the Ruhaniat until his death in 2001), Muiz
was trained in a variety of sufi subjects, including spiritual dance and
walk, breath practice, wazifa (mantra), zikr (remembrance
of the Divine through repetition of the Sacred Names), concentration, magnetism
and attunement.
For the past 26 years, at classes, seminars and retreats, both individually
and as a staff member for the Ruhaniat, and for 5 years with PeaceWorks:
International Center for the Dances of Universal Peace, he has presented
the Dances, led sufi spiritual practice, and assisted with the training
of other Dance leaders in California, Hawai'i, New Mexico, Minnesota, Washington
state, and Washington DC.
Muiz' sufi work is informed and deepened by a wide variety
of interests and talents from other areas of his life including:
10 years of his own psychological and psychic healing and integration
using the personal, inner-growth work developed by Elizabeth
Kübler-Ross, and the 3-Selves/Huna system taught by
Rev. Frida Waterhouse; 7 years working with Both Sides
Now, Maui's gay, bisexual, lesbian social, educational and
community outreach organization; 4 years of very active HIV/AIDS
education, prevention, counseling and support, including co-founding
the Maui AIDS Foundation; one strenuous year studying,
dancing and performing Hawai'ian Hula; co-facilitating
2 groups of court-mandated men for Alternatives to Violence
Maui's domestic violence prevention program; member of the counseling
team during 5 annual Dance Leader Training Camps; 3+ years
directing a biweekly men's group; co-producing several weekend
men's retreats; certification as a MotherWave Awakening Practitioner
(combining breath work, movement, and belief system modification
techniques); training in diversity awareness and prejudice reduction
work through the National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI);
and last but not least, a zany, irreverent sense of humor combined
with a strong belief in not taking self too seriously.
For whatever it's worth, having been out of the closet
since 1975, Muiz probably holds the distinction of being
the first openly gay/queer man to be confirmed as a Sheikh in
any formal sufi order.
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