Sufi: A practitioner of Sufism.

(See also: Sufi, Magic, Shamanism, Paganism, Wicca)

SUFI

("Of wool.") Posers as "sheep?" Apparently not. Sufism is thought of as a "veil" because the student takes what he wants from his teacher (not necessarily the greater truth which the teacher may wish to impart). Thus it is the veil of the wisemen who are teaching ancient esoteric lore. Others wear fine silks, but Sufis are content with wool. Sufis are found most frequently under the umbrella of Islam, but we are told that they exist in all religions as their most mystical or esoteric element. It is said to be the Islamic equivalent of Neoplatonism or Gnosticism. They follow the "Way" or Tariqah, whence, it is believed the Tarot (>tarocchi, or "four paths") derived. Sufism, at any rate, differs from fundamental Islam in being pantheistic and promoting belief in the immanence of God. Omar Khayyam was said to have been a Sufi (though the Rubayyat in translation conveys little that is Sufic). Jesus has also been called a sufi. A typical sufic answer to the statement that "No sufi ever says he is a sufi!" is "How do you know?"

The best way of eliminating a candidate for sufihood, according to Idries Shah's Pefumed Scorpion, is to use a kind of Catch-22. If he will accept an ignorant student just "as he is," he's probably not a sufi. Sufis don't take students from the rank and file of humanity. We might connect the word to Gk. Sophia (wisdom) although Arkon Daraul says "wise one" is not the highest degree of initiation. Safa ("purity") is the most popular derivation in the East. Daraul goes on to say that Sufism is a secret society (the wisdom passed down from Ali, son-in-law of the Prophet) with varying degrees of initiation and promotion through approval of the teacher (if the devotee acquires baraka, i.e., "blessing" or Power (grace). In the Bektashi order (whence the "janissaries" of Turkey) the degrees are: Ashiq (devotee); Muhib (one assigned to a master); Baba ("father" -- one who has mastered a hakma, or wisdom); Khalifa (deputy or prior); Sainthood or illumination (identification with the One power and being -- but not achievable in Islam). The initiate passes through 2 pillars, similar to those at Mecca (Safa and Marwa). Since the caliph is a secular ruler and since the ultimate degree, illumination, is not achievable, that actually leaves the baba (or master of a wisdom) as the de facto "sufi." Anything that can be said about sufis or sufism is probably incorrect. Sufism is described by Idries Shah as not "a" religion, but "religion." Better yet, simply "life." In fact, science, art and atheism may also be Sufic. What is not Sufic is orthodox, traditional or fundamentalistic belief.

(See also: SUFI, Magick, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul, )

Sufi, Sufi, Sufism [from Arab suf wool; sufi he who wears woolen garments]

A school of thought that emphasizes the superiority of the soul as opposed to the body. A Sufi wears harsh, raw woolen garments constantly irritating his skin to remind him that the body is the part which prevents the soul from attaining higher goals. The first public pronouncement of mysticism in Moslem lands is attributed to Rabi`a, who lived in the 1st century of the Hejira (622 AD) and expounded the theory of divine love: God is love, and everything on earth must be sacrificed in order eventually to attain union with God. However even before the time of Mohammed there were two principal schools of Arabic thought: the Meshaiuns (the walkers), who later became the metaphysicians after the appearance of the Koran, and the Ishrachiuns (the contemplators) who became affiliated with the Sufis. The Sufis, in fact, put an esoteric interpretation on the Koran, as well as the collected saying of Mohammed, the Sufi movement representing an infiltration into the rigidity of Islamic doctrine of the pre-Islamic mystical or quasi-occult stream of thought, especially from Persia. Blavatsky states that the Sufis acquired their "proficient knowledge in astrology, medicine, and the esoteric doctrine of the ages" from the descendants of the Magi" (IU 2:306).

By the year 200 of the Hejira a definite sect of mystics had arisen, and following the instructions of a prominent member, Abu Said, his disciples forsook the world and entered the mystic life with a view of pursuing contemplation and meditation. These disciples wore a garment of wool, and from this received their name. Sufiism spread rapidly in Persia, and all Moslem philosophers were attracted to this sect, as great latitude in the beliefs of its followers was at first permitted, until in the reign of Moktadir, a Persian Sufi named Hallaj was tortured and put to death for teaching publicly that every man is God. After this the Sufis veiled their teachings, and especially in their poetry used amorous language and sang of the delights of the wine cup. In spite of the amorous trend of poetry followed by the Sufis, to the observing eye there appears a beauty and a spirituality of thought which has found many devotees. Ideas of pantheism abound, for God is held to be immanent in all things, expresses itself through all things, and is the transcendent essence of every human soul. For a person to know God is to see that God is immanent in himself.

There are three synonymous words in modern Persian often interchangeably used -- Sufi, Aref, and Darvish -- each with its own nuance. Sufi represents the most institutionalized Islamic mysticism, while Aref and Erfan (school of thought-cognition) conveys cognitive aspects of mystic teachings and are more philosophic; Dervish and Darvishi (state of being Dervish) conveys freedom from attachments to worldly possessions. Hafi (the most loved and best known of the mystic poets) often refers to Sufis as those who rigidly adhere more to religious teachings than cognitive aspects of truth. These differences occurred when the mystics, due to religious persecution, had to veil their ancient beliefs with religious teachings. This made their teachings appear ambiguous, as a result of which, some confused esoteric mysticism with esoteric religion.

(See also: Sufi, Sufi, Sufism, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body mind and Soul)

Sufis tend to remain hidden in a mysterious world, revealing themselves only to chosen seekers of truth - who are receptive and devoted. This has been their way for thousands of years. They pray to God in the middle of night, in its deep silence when the world sleeps, as they don't want to make an exhibition of their prayer.

Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita: "The meditator meditates alone in the deep night when everybody in the world is sleeping". And Sufis do the same.

(See also: Osho, Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Muslim Quotes: Thief and the Sufi

A thief entered a SufiÕs house. He searched everywhere, but could find nothing worthy of stealing. He was about to leave in despair, when the Sufi awoke. Seeing the thiefÕs sad expression, the Sufi took the mat on which he was lying, and gave it to the thief.

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(See also: Islam Archives, Muslim Quotes, Inspirational Quotes, Love Quotes, Friendship Quotes, Life Quotes)

Read more here: » Muslim Quotes: Thief and the Sufi

Kabir, the inspired poet weaver of northern India, declared that there was neither Hindu nor Muslim, but only man as the embodiment of the Divine.

Sufi texts record that after Saint Kabir died, his followers and fans, both Hindus and Muslims, fought for the right to either cremate or bury his remains. As the quarrel started fanning communal passions, an elder requested members of both communities to cover the saint'sbody and to wait till the next morning. Morning dawned and when the sheet was taken off, the warring communities found that in place of the body, two heaps of flowers were kept. The Hindus cremated the Tulsi flowers while the Muslims buried the Jasmine heap and the problem was over.

(See also: Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

The Enneagram is a good system of self-assessment because it provides insight into our main unconscious thinking and acting strategies. The word Enneagram literally means nine points. It is a cosmological and psychological system represented by a nine-edged star-like picture that touches a circle at nine equidistant points. Each of these nine points represents nine types of human beings. This system was used by groups of initiates of ancient Greek and Sufi cultures.

The Enneagram system was kept secret for thousands of years. It was revealed to the public in the last century through Gurdjieffs work. Since then it has been unfolded and adjusted to modern times by many researchers.

Read more here: » Sufi Enneagram: Overcoming the Knowledge Paradox with the Enneagram

A Different View Of Islam & Sufism

For Anne-Marie Schimmel, Islam was a lifelong passion, as deep as her own roots in the Lutheran faith. Church rituals were as dear to her as bowing in prayer at Sufi shrines.

Sitting in Bonn she dreamed of Bijapur and Bidar, talked of her friend Allan Fakir in Sindh and brooded over the problem of selecting a site for her burial in Sindh. This gentle woman, renowned scholar of Sufism, passed away in Germany recently. As gently as she had lived.

Read more here: » Islam Sufism: A Different View Of Islam Sufism

Guru Nanak Meets Bahlol In Baghdad

Baghdad was, in Nanak's time, a centre of Muslim culture - it was home to pirs and sufi fakirs. Guru Nanak stayed in Baghdad for four months and interacted with the holy men there, one of whom was Bahlol.

Guru Nanak sang of the infinity of God and His infinite creation. Bahlol said that the Qur'an had mentioned seven earths and seven heavens only. Guru Nanak urged that the universe was not confined to seven earths and seven heavens but had millions and millions of planets and worlds and the Guru greeted all in the name of Sat Kartar.

Read more here: » Guru Nanak: Guru Nanak Meets Bahlol In Baghdad

It was like walking in to see a revered old friend, only to find her violated and left to die. I am talking about a Sufi shrine that breathed gently behind Humayun's tomb in Delhi which I discovered years ago.

My mother had read about it in an obscure Urdu magazine and was struck by its miracle aura. The shrine, my mother told me, drew its strength from an 800-year-old tree under which a Sufi Baba meditated an entire lifetime... When he "went behind the veil" he was buried under that tree.

(See also: Sufi Shrine of Leaves, Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Enneagram: The Sufi Enneagram explored as a way of becoming aware of how the pains of the heart can blurr out the reality of our essence and how our disorders themselves are the raw material of our recovery.

Read more here: » Sufism: The Sufi understanding of the Enneagram

" The only thing necessary for evil to triumph ", wrote Edmund Burke, " is for good men to do nothing ".

It is gratifying that in the midst of religious violence in the country many voices of resistance and sanity are being raised. The focus of this movement is promotion of tolerance and respect for diversity. However, I think something needs to be added to the "literary debate" about Islam, Hinduism and the problem of religious intolerance - namely, insight into the human mind's attachment to identity and fear of its loss.

(See also: Sufism, Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Sufi Teacher Phillippe De Vos explain the emergence of what the sufis call the “Fath Rabani" (Divine Awakening), and he relates this awakening process to the Indian wisdom and the notions of kalpa and manvanra (cosmic cycles)and the coming of the Venus Transit of June 6-8 2004.

Read more here: » Venus Transit: The Divine Awakening of the Heart

Phillipe de Vos is a Sufi Master who visited India and shared the Sufi way at the Oneness Festival February 2004. "Open your eyes – you where never enemies!" That is the call for peace from Phillipe De Vos.

Read more here: » Call for Peace between Moslems and Hindus

Enchanting Abode of The Double Devta

Having been born into a secular Hindu family which venerates a Sufi saint, I have always thought I had a special advantage over my friends whose faith in their respective religions would perhaps be more limiting than mine. So, while we commemorate the Urs of our Pir, we also celebrate Diwali and New Year at his shrine. Are we Muslim, Hindu, Sufi or Christian?

Read more here: » Islam and Hinduism: Enchanting Abode of The Double Devta

Sufism has been defined in many ways. Some see it as God's annihilating the individual's ego, will, and self-centredness and then reviving him spiritually with the lights of His Essence so that he may live according to His will.

Read more here: » Sufism - God's annihilating the individual's ego

Image:Bawa-peace.jpgMuhammad Raheem Bawa Muhaiyaddeen was a revered Sufi saint from the island of Sri Lanka who shared his knowledge and experience with people of every race and religion and from all parts of the world. He first came to the United States in 1971 and established The Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Fellowship of North America in Philadelphia. Since then branches have spread throughout the United States and ...

Including:

• Bawa Muhaiyaddeen - Quotes

Read more here: » Bawa Muhaiyaddeen: Encyclopedia - Bawa Muhaiyaddeen

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• Sufism - Etymology
• Sufism - History of Sufism
• Sufism - Origins
• Sufism - The great Masters of Sufism
• Sufism - Formalisation of Philosophies of Sufism
• Sufism - Propagation of Sufism
• Sufism - Modern Sufism
• Sufism - Influences
• Sufism - Basic beliefs
• Sufism - Sufi Concepts
• Sufism - Lataif-e-sitta The Six Subtleties
• Sufism - Sufi cosmology
• Sufism - Sufi practices
• Sufism - Muraqaba
• Sufism - Dhikr
• Sufism - Qawwali
• Sufism - Sama
• Sufism - Orders of Sufism
• Sufism - Traditional orders
• Sufism - Non-Traditional Sufi Groups
• Sufism - Traditional Islamic schools of thought and Sufism
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The Mevlevi Order or the Mevleviye are a Sufi order founded by the followers of the Persian Jalal al-Din Muhammad Rumi in 1273 in Konya present day Turkey; also known as the Whirling Dervishes due to their famous practice of whirling as a form of dhikr (remembrance of Allah). Dervishes are members of Sufi ascetic religious Tarika or "confraternities", known for their extreme poverty and austerity. The Mevlevi, or Mevleviye, one of the most well-known of the Sufi orders, was founded in 1273 by Rumi's followe ...

Read more here: » Mevlevi: Encyclopedia - Mevlevi

In Abrahamic religions, pre-existence is the belief that each individual human soul existed before conception, and at conception (or later, depending on when it is believed that the soul enters the body) God places one of these pre-existent souls in the body. In Christianity, pre-existence contrasts with traducianism and the more widely accepted version of creationism which both hold that the individual human soul doe ...

Including:

• Pre-existence - Pre-existence in Christianity
• Pre-existence - Early Christian writings on pre-existence
• Pre-existence - Pre-mortal existence in Mormonism
• Pre-existence - Pre-existence in Judaism
• Pre-existence - Pre-existence in Sufi Islam

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