Sufism has as its goal the development of noble qualities, such as the purification of the self, purification of the heart, moral etiquette, beautiful action (ihsan), nearness to God, inner knowledge (ma’rifat), annihilation in God (fana‘), and subsistence in God (baqa‘).

The true purpose of Sufism is to transform the seeker into a highly humane and moral person by the building of character through spiritual training. Human beings have other centres of consciousness in addition to the mind, centres which serve as inner faculties for attaining knowledge, known as lata’if.

Foremost among these centres is the heart. Purifying and ‘polishing’ the heart through spiritual practices allows it to become a mirror reflecting the light of Truth.

The preliminary practices of the School of Sufi Teaching are designed to connect one to all of these subtle centres of consciousness, beginning with the heart. By activating, clarifying and refining one’s heart, profound intuition and realisation can be achieved.