. >> as we allow this to just sink within us, just end with a chant, allahu allah. >> allahu allah. > reporter: sheik rahman is a respected scholar and teacher in the mystical branch of islam known as sufism. at this retreat, he is getting some help from two other spiritual directors-- don mackenzie, a retired minister for the united church of christ, and ted falcon, a rabbi. >> i think more and more, people have greater degree of awareness that the path exists within them. the institution has a tendency of protecting us from the immediacy of the spiritual encounter. >> what are we doing here? what's it about? >> reporter: pastor mackenzie says the tradition of seeking help from a spiritual director is ancient and historically it's been people active in their faith who have been doing the seeking. >> people are feeling there's an emptiness, and how is it that we can get back and claim the substance that comes through our traditions in a way that moves toward healing, that fulfills us, that makes us better citizens, and so forth. >> reporter: searchers say they sometimes feel closer to