Sufis |
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Sufis
are often
described as the mystics of Islam, but Sufism fits awkwardly in the
categories of religions. Technically Sufism is a denomination of
Islam, however there are many Sufis that are not Muslims and there
are many Muslims that are reluctant to consider Sufism part of
Islam.
One of the few
concepts that Sufis seem to agree on is that all religions offer a
path to salvation or enlightenment and that true God realization, no
matter how it is achieved, transcends the limitations and
classification of any religion. Basically, a saint in any religion
is equal to a saint in any other religion because they are inspired
by the same Divine source. Initially the term Sufi referred only to
those who had achieved God realization, but it has since come to be
applied to anyone who follows that particular spiritual path. |
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The name Sufi comes from “suf,” the Arabic word for wool or“saf,”the Persian word for pure. The whirling dervishes of Sufism wore inexpensive wool clothes as part of their life of renunciation. |
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The Sufi Way consists of four stages. The first stage involves learning the morality and ethics of all religion, which is accomplished by studying Islam.
Non-Islamic Sufis rely on other religions or the writings of Sufi
saints to establish the foundation of morals and ethics. The first two stages are accomplished through prac-tice and imitation, basically surrendering blindly to rituals.The second stage is the path of Sufism, |
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practices in the same way that Islam offers the external practices of law and worship.
The
third stage is where the aspirant begins to understand the meaning
behind the teaching and practices, experiencing God within and the
mystical states of Sufism.
The fourth
stage is ma'rifah or
gnosis. This is where the knowledge of God is realized and is only
achieved by prophets, great masters and saints. The goal of
following the Sufi way (or to be devoted to any other religion) is
not to become a saint, but rather to align your life with the will
of God and to do all that you can to accept and live by God’s Grace. Indeed, if your goal is to become a saint, it is all but assured that because of your own desires you will never become one. |
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