The Mystic's Dream

From The Oracle

Dear Readers, please do not assume that you understand anything you read on this blog.(;-)

Sufism -- Sufis -- Sufi Orders

Sufism's Many Paths
Dr. Alan Godlas, University of Georgia

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Sufism or tasawwuf, as it is called in Arabic, is generally understood by scholars and Sufis to be the inner, mystical, or psycho-spiritual dimension of Islam. Today, however, many Muslims and non-Muslims believe that Sufism is outside the sphere of Islam. Nevertheless, Seyyed Hossein Nasr, one of the foremost scholars of Islam, in his article The Interior Life in Islam contends that Sufism is simply the name for the inner or esoteric dimension of Islam.

After nearly 30 years of the study of Sufism, I would say that in spite of its many variations and voluminous expressions, the essence of Sufi practice is quite simple. It is that the Sufi surrenders to God, in love, over and over; which involves embracing with love at each moment the content of one's consciousness (one's perceptions, thoughts, and feelings, as well as one's sense of self) as gifts of God or, more precisely, as manifestations of God.

Sufi Spiritual Transformation Workshop w/Dr. Godlas March 29-30, 2008, near Kalamazoo, Michigan. Sufis Without Borders An online discussion group loosely moderated by Dr. Godlas and a moderating committee; currently over 860 international participants from many Sufi orders and perspectives, interested non-Sufis, and scholars. Sufi News and Sufism World Report The only news digest from around the world concerning Sufis and Sufism. Updated daily. Sufi Cartoons Table of Contents Sufism: an Introduction Classical Sufi Definitions of Sufism Obstacles on the Path Struggle With One's Nafs (self)  Awakening to the Awareness of the Unmanifest World  Remembering God  Sufism, Remembrance, and Love Islam's Relationship to Sufism: Approval and Criticism  Sufism and Sufi Orders in the West Sufi Poets and Sufi Poetry Sufi Women  Sufi Qur'an Commentary (Sufi Tafsir) Sufi Resources, Books, Bookstores, Events and Conferences, and Sufi Personal and Marriage Ads Online Sufi Texts in Arabic Shaykhs, Sufi Orders, and Shrines Selected Sufis Sufi Orders and Their Shaykhs Hasan al-Basri Malamatiya Rabi'a al-Adawiya Yasawiya - Ahmet Yasawi Bayazid-i Bistami Kubrawiya (and Oveyssi)- Najm al-Din Kubra  Sahl ibn 'Abdallah al-Tustari Qadiriya - 'Abd al-Qadir Jilani Mansur al-Hallaj Rifa'iya - Ahmet Rifa'i Abu 'l-Hasan Kharaqani Mevleviye - Jalal al-Din Rumi Abu Sa'id Abu al-Khayr Bektashiye - Haji Bektash Veli Khwajah 'Abdallah Ansari Naqshbandiya - Baha' al-Din Naqshband Abu Hamid al-Ghazali Ni'matallahiya - Shah Ni'matallah Vali 'Ayn al-Qudat Hamadani Bayramiye - Haji Bayram Veli Ruzbihan-i Baqli Chishtiya - Mu'in al-Din Chishti Ibn 'Arabi Shadhiliya - Abu al-Hasan al-Shadhili Yunus Emre Khalwatiya - 'Umar al-Khalwati Tijaniya - Ahmad al-Tijani Muridiyya - Ahmadu Bamba Qalandariya Orders in East Africa Orders in North Africa Orders in Indonesia and Malaysia Orders in Afghanistan Orders in Pakistan Orders in Bangladesh and India Orders in Kurdistan Orders in Russia Orders in Turkmenistan Orders in the Balkans

Dear Readers, please do not assume that you understand anything you read on this blog.

Fear and Deceit (hidden gateposts upon which hang the gates ro hell)

The Hidden, Twin Cardinal Sins....

so often are they committed, they are an integral part of our daily lives and, therefore, even Pope Gregory could not bring himself to include these two as cardinal or deadly....

......but deadly they surely are! 

They are DECEIT and FEAR.

It is wise to distrust the one(s) who attempt to frighten you.

For a terrorist's words and actions will always bring out the worst in you, 
whether said terrorist is thought an enemy or a friend.

Adrenalin is, 

more often than not,

stupid juice in our post modern world.

Fearful people do stupid things.

When did the people of America, 

the land of the free and the home of the brave,

cease to be either?

It is the truth that will set us free

and so

we shall require the courage to think for ourselves, 
to have faith in our own minds,

even in the face of

 deceitful, 

fear-mongering

enemies of liberty and life.



Politicians 

and 

pundits, 

unelected by anyone to do anything but an exert an out-of-the-spotlight; 
a slitherin' kind of power none-the-less, 
more dangerous to the people than
our elected officials 
(often in every level of government, from the oval office to the desk of the county or city jailer), 

our social/cultural institutions (in and out of government) in which a majority of Americans are beginning to lose trust/confidence.


Number one: Commerce and Banking. The corporatism we have seen on the rise, at least, since World War I and, 
certainly for the last 30 years,


These people have a vested interest in inducing fear among the public 
thus
making the masses easily led, if even for a small time,

For that is all it takes 

for the fearful and vengeance-seeking to give up everything.

Where there is a plan; one which has been constructed over several years, 

involving goals related to great lust for wealth/power and gluttony for material good/ resources,

it does not take decades of unquestioned leadership to put such a plan into action.

Especially not when there comes a catastrophic (catalyzing) event!

       He/She or whole organizations of people,

who seek to keep your adrenalin levels bouncing off the scale,

should definitely NOT be on your Christmas card list. 

Matter of fact, they should be on your 

"bears watching list" 

Anytime anyone tells you he/she/it will keep you safe, be wary. 

Absolute security is not possible. 

Anyone who believes it is, is a fool who deserves neither security nor liberty. 

Think about it. 

The closest thing I can think of to complete safety is being in solitary confinement. 

Even then, you would be dependent on your guard(s)

 Dear Readers, please do not assume that you understand anything you read here.

The Oracle At Delphi

Over the portal to the Oracle at Delphi are inscribed the words: 

"Know Thyself."
  

Wise words, as it is with this quest that we must begin any serious journey toward real wisdom,

which comes with years of acquired knowledge,

  cooked slowly over a flame,
like a fine, savory stew;

A Stew

for the nourishment of the essence of ourselves and others.

Dear Readers, please do not assume that you understand anything you read on this blog. Written here are words to contemplate in the language of spirit.