A Phenomenological Understanding of Psychosocial Determinants and Reactions to the Piri-Muridi (Master-Disciple) Relationship Among Early Adults

The authors carried out a qualitative study with a phenomenological research design to explore the factors influencing participants’ psychosocial reactions that led them to seek the services of a pir (master). The six early adult participants living in Lahore, Pakistan, had an age range of 20 to 40 years (men = 3; women = 3). Seven psychosocial determinants were identified (domestic factors, blind faith in the pir, sociocultural determinants, the nature and characteristics of the pir and of the murid [disciple], resources the pir used to attract the murid, and the gender of the murid). Two psychosocial reactions emerged as superordinate themes. The results will assist in the development of a scale by characterizing and quantifying the identified psychosocial determinants and reactions.