Maktab Tarighat Oveyssi Shahmaghsoudi®, School of Islamic Sufism is the school of Self-knowledge. The urge to know is inherent in each human being. It is not unique to any particular race, creed, or culture, nor is it bounded to any particular time or place. It is universal. Sufism, as taught by the present Sufi Master Hazrat Salaheddin Ali Nader Angha, is a method that shows the human being the way to discover the reality that lies within him, so he may know the truth of his being, and live in harmony and peace with himself and others.
The name Maktab Tarighat Oveyssi® (M.T.O.)® literally means "School of the Path of Oveys." Hazrat Oveys Gharani taught that the true way to God was to search inward, to recognize our true Self in the depth of our being in our heart. While Oveys Gharani never actually visited or set eyes on his spiritual teacher, Hazrat Mohammad (peace be upon him), he knew him in his heart. This method of heart to heart cognition is the kind of spiritual relationship that should exist between the seeker and the teacher in Sufism. The spiritual teacher, known as the "Pir", meaning the "Light of the Path," illuminates the darkness to help seekers to find their way to their true Self.
Hazrat Oveys Gharani’s way of inward cognition was confirmed by the Holy Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) as the Holy Prophet bestowed his Cloak to Hazrat Oveys and said, "Follow the way of Oveys."
Hazrat Oveys Gharani is the founder of the Maktab Tarighat Oveyssi Shahmaghsoudi®, School of Islamic Sufism®. The inspired and revealed spiritual knowledge has been passed down from the time of Hazrat Oveys to Hazrat Salaheddin Ali Nader Angha, the present Master of the school, through an unbroken succession of Masters who are well known by historians and scholars.
For over 1400 years, these Sufi Masters have taught students not to be followers, but to be masters of their own lives through self-knowledge.
The second part of the name of the school, Shahmaghsoudi, refers to the forty-first master of the Oveyssi School, Hazrat Shah Maghsoud Sadegh Angha. Through Hazrat Shah Maghsoud and his immense knowledge in Sufism and other sciences, the message of Sufism was, for the first time, opened to a larger audience - a blessing for all who seek self-cognition.
In the past, Sufism was an esoteric science and its instructions were not available to all. In earlier times, much self-discipline was endured by the few who attained this reality, for they had to prove they were a worthy student first, before receiving any instruction. However, beginning in 1950, the dwelling of Hazrat Shah Maghsoud Sadegh Angha became open to all. The gates of the khaneghah were opened and any newcomer was welcome to hear the Truth.
Hazrat Shah Maghsoud in Hamaseh Hayat (Epic of Life) also states:
"We are determined in opening the door of knowledge to humanity
Reveal to them the will of Sufism,
and expose the misconceptions
Make knowledge the guiding lantern of people’s path
and cognition, the light of the aware hearts of the created
So they do not take ignorance as religion
nor appearances as knowledge, and guesses as method.
That they turn to the real Islam,
and do not tread anywhere other than the path of Truth (God)"
The teachings and practices are based on self-cognition which leads to cognition of God. This helps to separate the true teachings of the Prophets from illusions and superstitions and reveal the reality of religion.
The Cloak, which represents divine knowledge transmitted by God, has been passed down since the time of the Holy Prophet through the school’s Holy teachers.
The present Pir of the School, Molana Hazrat Salaheddin Ali Nader Angha, received the Cloak on September 4, 1970 from his Master and father Hazrat Shah Maghsoud Sadegh Angha. Under the direct guidance of Hazrat Salaheddin Ali Nader Angha, the school has grown to become an international non-profit organization with centers (khaneghahs) spanning five continents, and boasting a student body of more than 500,000 students worldwide. The teachings of the school bring the message of knowledge, love, peace, tranquility and survival to the lives of the true seekers.
