Hello Guys,
As you all know I am not an Islamic scholar at all. I was talking to some muslims the other day and as wanted to get their opinion on Sufism. One of the many interesting things which came out of this conservations, aside from me buying more sweet cheese baklava,and probably blowing up like Marlon Brando.
It really tastes awesome. Anyways I heard that the sufis arent true to Islam in that they follow someone or they worship there particular master. As I understand it this is forbidden or frowned upon.
It made me think a lot. For the darvishes I have met and for what I have seen I really thought about it, especially because I had read the following two things :
I.
Someone once asked one of Bayazid’s disciples: “Who is greater, your master or Abu Hanifa?” “My master,” replied the disciple. “Who is greater, Abu Bakr or your master?” “My master,” again replied the disciple. “Who is greater, the other companions of the prophet, or your master?” “My master,” replied the disciple once more. “Who is greater, the prophet Muhammad or your master?” “My master,” replied the disciple yet again. “Well then, who is greater, God or your master?” “I have seen God in my master and know of nothing other than my master,” replied the disciple for the last time .
The other thing I read camefrom the book Discourses On the Sufi path by Dr. Javad Nurbakhsh.
Every person wants to find a perfect human being with whom he may becaome harmonized in action speech and thought. That is, all human beings, whether they know it or not, have their sights set on human perfection, desiring to find a teacher who may guide them towards it.
In seeking the way to perfection,a person may encounter a master and acceot him with t and soul as a guide and teacher. Whne one finds such a master. one devotes himself to him in order to win his attention.
Submission to a master is the same as submission to God, for a master is God’s representative on earth. Th secret of submission to a master, in the beginning is to practice the etiquette of submission so that ultimately you may truly submitt to God. When you submit to a master, the master is obliged to instruct youin such a way that you may gradually come to submitt to God, such that the self which stands between you and God disappears.
I think this is a really subtle point. The sheikh or the master or the pir, whatever term you want to use, has to at all times guard against being worshiped, and his behavior and actions are never one and the same as I have seen not just with sufi masters but with other truly spiritual leaders. They respond to the needs of a deeper you and many a times on the surface their behaviors strike you as strange nonsensical.
I remember my wife parents who are a non denomination sort of christians, told me that that Roman Catholics worship, Idols.This came as a surprise to me because as a roman catholic for a lifetime, i never worship any images or had a golden calf in my room.
Let me know wat you think? it be nice to hear some comments
I Knew you had a golden calf I knew it I knew it I knew see my parents we’re right about you!! lol I’m just kidding but you do bring a valid point. Actually at some point I too use to think that way due to my parents. It seems most of the time people have this assumption without trying really understand. I think people assume that being tolerant is ok, it goes beyond being tolerant of someone’s religious beliefs, As they say ” you won’t understand someone unless you walk in their shoes” its such small over used quote but in the end if you actually pay close attention to it has a big punch to the face of an impact. AND I WANNA SEE THE GOLDEN CALF!!!!!
The reason Sufism could fairly flourished in India was mainly due to its similarity to Bhakti Yoga. The master’s position can never be challenged..come what may! It is just like thinking of reading a Classical Novel without getting into kindergarten and trying to write alphabets without letting your teacher hold your hand to guide you to scribble sensibly.
And yes there are Eikalavyas who will keep reminding us that a Master can be an idol of mud but his effectiveness is never compromised.. anyways.
- AD
If everything is God, how can there be such a thing as an idol? To say “idol” one is saying something is God, something is not. The Master has inwardly purified himself to be One and the Same as the Real. Better to worship the living expression of the Real than formulas, prayers, and books that are without life. No? Will a prayer help you more or one who is One with Truth? This is really just Western nonsense about individualism. True, one has to be careful, very careful, who is the Master, but if the Master is truly God-realized there is no question of having your own “opinions” and “desires”. Isn’t it better for the Master, a living expression of Divine Love, to be your Qibla than a big black rock in a desert being circled by a bunch of ignorants? If the Master says circle the rock, you do it. If he says, Circle me, it is greater than circling the Rock. Every great Sufi and every great Master has had a Master, and all have loved their masters intensely and deeply. Rumi and Shams e Tabrizi, Hafez and Pir Golrang, Bayazid Bastami and His master, Milarepa and Marpa, etc. etc. etc. Actually, there is a great being who lived in India just a few decades ago, Merwan Irani, or Meher Baba, who said that on the 6th plane of consciousness, it is absolutely impossible for a salik to advance to the 7th and final stage of Union without the Grace of the Master. But maybe “worship” is the wrong word. Love is a better word.