In the state of ‘passing away of the self in God (fana), the Sufi has completely sot the self and reached the spiritual station that is called the Tavern of Ruin. It is said that Bayazid Bestami was in this spiritual when someone knocked at his door. Bayazid asked, “What do you want?” The man answered that he was looking for Bayazid. Bayazid replied, “Ah ! it has been years since I have had any news of him!”
In such a state the Sufi has passed beyond faith and unbelief seeing neither friend nor stranger; in everyone, he or she sees only god> Yet it is not from the self that he or she sees. Rather, it is God seeing God in God. In such a state the sufi says:
The Lover has died
and left behind both
Islam and unbelief
Burning in love’s flame
the moth does not distinguish
Between the light of the mosque
and the light of the monastery
Blasphemy and religion Ka’aba and
pagan temple
for the true lover are one and the same- Dr Javad Nurbakhsh
I thought I would add a poem from ruin that talks about the Tavern of Ruin Enjoy
I’m drunk and you’re insane
who’s going to lead us home?
How many times did they say
“Drink a little, only two or three at the most”?
In this city no one I see is conscious
one is worse off than than the next, frenzied and insane.
Dear one come to the Tavern of Ruin
and Experience the pleasures of the soul.
What happiness can there be apart
from this intimate conversation
with the beloved with the Soul of souls
