These dances, from the earliest times, have been sacred movements, songs, and stories that brought people together. They were used as ceremonies and celebrations, pertaining to everyday life and passing through life, through daily renewal and meditation.
Sufi and Zen teacher, master Samuel L. Lewis, combined sacred scriptures and phrases from the traditional spiritual world with music and movement.
Universal peace dances are a spiritually transformative practice that invokes a sense of unity, presence, and compassion. Thus touching the spiritual essence that is found in all of us.
What does dance do for us? First of all it instills a sense of rhythm and increases our response to the rhythm. This is really a response to life. It makes us more alive, which is to say more spiritual. It brings out the beauty of form and movement, and engages our personalities in their own satisfaction. It takes us beyond ourselves, initially bringing a taste of the state of non-being, which is actually a balm to the soul.
Divine truth does not belong to any organization. If I organize it here, it will be done under the title of "Islamic Ruhaniat Society," that is, the complete teachings of the spiritual sciences that lead to the realization of peace. To the extent that I work with my colleagues in other faiths, this will be demonstrated. We will not be called 'Sufis' to distinguish us from anyone else.
Through his rich life experiences Murshid Samuel Lewis envisioned and created the Dances as a dynamic method of promoting "Peace through the Arts." From its inception with its original body of about 50 dances, to its passing in 1971, the collection has grown tremendously and now boasts over 500 dances that celebrate the sacred heart of Hinduism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Sikhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam and the Aramaic, Native American, Native Middle Eastern, Celtic, Native African and Goddess traditions.