​Sufism is a spiritual practice of purifying the lower self from the corrupting influences of the world and connecting with the infinite God. It is believed that such a connection, known as 'fana', can only be made at the end stages of spiritual development, when the seeker loses all sense of self and experiences a deep awareness of God's presence.

If you are curious about Sufism and would like to explore it further, then continue reading…

In the west, when we think of Sufism, we typically think of the Whirling Dervishes. Though there is much more to the Sufi practice than dancing meditatively in a joyful trance! 

A Sufi can be described as a mystic who worships Allah. This is a highly regarded avocation. It is said that the Sufi religion has its roots in ancient India and is a manifestation of the ancient wisdom of the prophet Muhammad. There are also various branches of Sufism, including those that teach meditation, healing, and spiritual awakening. 

​Among the main characteristics of a Sufi is its emphasis on contemplation. While some choose to live withdrawn from society, many seek to satisfy their spiritual journey through altruism and social justice. They avoid violence and claim to be responsible citizens. This means they reject a purely materialistic lifestyle. A Sufi (practitioner of Sufism) believes in service to humanity and seeks to transform society. 

Sufism often involves a more rigorous and spiritual approach to the classical texts. This way is largely suitable for those seeking to study ancient texts and interpret their wisdom thru deep contemplation and long mediation. Because of this, Sufism can seem challenging for people who are not familiar with the Islamic culture and tradition. 

Although there are many forms of Sufism, there are some key similarities. This includes the fact that a Sufi has a history that spans centuries. In addition, the practice is a practical pursuit of mysticism. This openness to a variety of practices and beliefs has drawn many people into its fold. What makes Sufism different from other religions? In particular, it is a form of Islam that is disassociated from fundamentalism or fanaticism.

The Arabic word 'Tasawwuf', which means being or becoming a Sufi, is typically translated as Sufism. Western authors often refer to Sufism as Islamic mysticism.

Both proponents and critics of Sufism have used the Arabic term 'Sufi' in Islamic literature. Classical Sufi texts that stressed certain teachings, practices and teachings of the Quran (practices and teachings of the Islamic prophet Muhammad) gave definitions for Tasawwuf which described spiritual and ethical goals and served as tools to help them achieve their spiritual goals.

All Muslims believe that they are on the path to meet with Allah, and that after their death and the last judement, they will be able to meet God in Paradise. However, Sufis believe it is possible to get closer to God and more fully experience the divine presence in this world itself. All Sufis seek to please God by restoring the primordial state called, 'Fitra', within themselves.

Opposition to Sufi teachers and orders from more literalist and legalist strains of Islam has existed in various forms throughout Islamic history.

While Sufi orders were historically important for the expansion of Islam, they are also important today. Sufi orders were among the few indigenous social organizations that were tolerated during colonial rule in sub-Saharan Africa. This allowed them to play a critical role in developing the faith and the expansion of Islam in the region. The enduring influence of Sufism in the modern era cannot be overstated.

Abu-Muhammad Muslih al-Din al-Din Bin Abdallah Shirazi is better known by his pen-name Sa'di (also written as Saadi or Sadi). He was one of the most important Persian poets during the medieval period. Not only is he well-known in Persian-speaking nations, but he has often been quoted by many western sources.

Sadi was a deep observer of the absurdity and futility of human existence. Saadi is also known as a panegyrist as well as lyricist. He was the author of many odes that portray human experience and some odes, such as the lament about the fall of Baghdad following the Mongol invasion of 1258. Ghazaliyat ("Lyrics") contains his lyrics, while Qasaid ("Odes") has his odes. His works in Arabic are also well-known.

Bustan ("The Orchard") was completed in 1257, and Gulistan ("The Rose Garden") was completed in 1258. Bustan is entirely written in verse. It contains stories that illustrate the virtues of Islam (justice and liberality, modesty and contentment), as well as reflections about the behavior of dervishes, and their ecstatic ways. Gulistan is mostly in prose, and includes stories and personal anecdotes. There are a number of poems, advice and funny reflections in the text. His writings are of high quality and his moral and social thoughts are well-known.

The Persian poet Sadi, best known for his poetic collections the Bustan and Gulistan, also wrote this work, the Pand Namah, or Scrolls of Wisdom. This is a small collection of twenty-four poems on moral themes.

Sadi was born in Shiraz, Iran to a family of religious scholars. Later he left Shiraz to enroll in a prestigious university in Baghdad, where he studied Islamic sciences, law, governance, history, Persian literature, and Islamic theology.

After the Mongol invasions of Baghdad, he was forced to live in isolated areas and met many caravans fearing for their lives on once-lively silk trade routes. Sadi lived in reclusive refugee camps where he met thugs and bandits, Imams (priests), men who formerly owned great wealth or commanded large armies, intellectuals as well as ordinary people.

It was probably such experiences of meeting men from various walks of life... who had it all and then lost it all... of men who were once powerful but now fearful for their survival and so on, that had a deep profound impact on his creative-works.

Sadi distinguished between the spiritual and the practical or mundane aspects of life. Sadi's creations are not just artistically flavorful but are also inspirational in their own way. They show us glimpses into a person who has observed the inner workings of the universe in his own heart and as such seems to be reminiscent of another wonderful Persian poet- Rumi.

Together with Rumi and Hafez, Sadi is considered one of the three greatest ghazal (long love poems)-writers of Persian poetry.

Here we present three of his poems from the famous collection- Scroll of Wisdom. Hopefully they will inspire you to mull and contemplate on the depth and profoundness of Sadi's words and thru them get a glimpse into the divine- which is ultimately the power that propels every true artistic creation!

Categories:
Ancient Wisdom   and    Mystic Islam ​

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Categories:
Ancient Wisdom,   Life Management   and    Buddhism ​

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​A Tibetan prayer flag, a rectangular colored cloth that is colorful and rectangular in shape, can be found strung on trails or high up in the Himalayas. They can be used to bless the countryside or for other purposes.

There are two types of prayer flags. The horizontal ones are called Lung ta and the vertical ones are called Darchog. Prayer flags are traditionally sold in sets of five, one for each of the five colors associated with the five elements of fire, earth, air, water, and sky.

​Categories:
Ancient Wisdom and Buddhism ​

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​#TibetanBuddhism #TibetanPrayerFlag #prayerflag #Dhwaja #Dhvaja #Buddhism #GautamBuddha #teachingsofBuddha #bodhisattva

A Tibetan prayer flag, a rectangular colored cloth that is colorful and rectangular in shape, can be found strung on trails or high up in the Himalayas. They can be used to bless the countryside or for other purposes.

There are two types of prayer flags. The horizontal ones are called Lung ta and the vertical ones are called Darchog. Prayer flags are traditionally sold in sets of five, one for each of the five colors associated with the five elements.

Traditional prayer flags featured a powerful horse in the center carrying three flaming jewels on its back. These jewels are called as ‘ratna’. Such type of Lung Ta flag symbolizes speedy transformation from bad luck to good fortune. The three ratnas, i.e., the three jewels, signify, The Buddha as the first jewel, Dharma, which indicate the Buddhist teachings as the second jewel and finally the third jewel signifies Sangha, the Buddhist community. These three concepts are considered as the main cornerstone of the Tibetan Buddhist teachings and traditions, and they are symbolically indicated on these flags via the three jewels (ratnas). ​

Categories:
Ancient Wisdom and   Buddhism ​​

Keywords and Tags:
​#TibetanBuddhism #TibetanPrayerFlag #prayerflag #Dhwaja #Dhvaja #Buddhism #GautamBuddha #teachingsofBuddha #bodhisattva

A Tibetan prayer flag, a rectangular colored cloth, can be found strung on trails or high up in the Himalayas. These are used to bless the countryside and the people and vegetation in that area. 

As per the legend, Gautam Buddha, who is the founder of the Buddhist religion and traditions, first used these prayer flags. It is believed that his prayers were written on the battle flags of the devas (divine beings) against their fight against the asuras (the diabolical beings).  Prayer flags were discouraged during the Cultural Revolution in Tibet, because of which many of the traditional designs might have been lost. ​

​Categories:
Ancient Wisdom and   Buddhism ​

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​#TibetanBuddhism #TibetanPrayerFlag #prayerflag #Dhwaja #Dhvaja #Buddhism #GautamBuddha #teachingsofBuddha #bodhisattva

​Buddhism was established in India in 563-483 B.C.E. by Siddhartha Gautama. It spread over the next millennia throughout Asia and the rest of the world. Buddhists believe life is a cycle of suffering and rebirth. It is possible to achieve enlightenment (nirvana) if you are able to free yourself from this "repeated cycle of birth and death"!

Buddhism provided a "middle way" of attaining nirvana, i.e. enlightenment. Enlightenment is the profound realization of the meaning of life,  which annihilates  suffering to further lead to moksha, which is freedom from the repeated cycles of birth and death.

This way of Gautama, The Buddha (The Realized One), which is what Buddhism represents, allows one to walk the spiritual path using neither extremes- of spiritual practice or materialistic living. It is the middle path where one neither indulges in extreme asceticism nor in extreme material pursuits!

Categories:
Ancient Wisdom,    Buddhism  and   Global Vedic Wisdom
​
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#Quantum #tantra #Buddhism #BuddhistTantra#TheFourTruths #Nirvana #Enlightenment #ascension #tantric #yoga #tantrayana #tantras #ancientwisdom #Consciousness ​

A Zen master named Gisan asked a young student to bring him a pail of water to cool his bath.

The student brought the water and, after cooling the bath, threw on to the ground the little that was left over.

“You dunce!” the master scolded him. “Why didn’t you give the rest of the water to the plants? What right have you to waste even one drop of water in this temple?”
​
The young student attained Zen in that instant. He changed his name to Tekisui, which means a drop of water.

Categories:
Ancient Wisdom, and Buddhism ​

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In today’s times when we there is so much of anger and unrest in the world, it becomes even more important to keep in mind this invaluable lesson from Jesus.

It is the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, which is also known as the Parable of the Ungrateful Servant and it appears in the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament of the bible. According to Matthew 18:21-35, it indicates the importance of forgiving others, so that we are also forgiven by the Divine for our own mistakes and trespasses!
​
This parable was told by Jesus Christ as an answer to a question by Peter (one of his key apostles) about forgiveness…

After narrating this parable, Jesus explained to his dear apostle- Peter, that the Kingdom of Heaven is also very similar! If we seek forgiveness for our mistakes, sins, and trespasses from God, our father in heaven, then it is imperative that we show kindness, mercy, and compassion to those who have wronged against us.

It is not for us to judge if their mistakes are big or small… what we need to do is show love and compassion, so that we in turn can receive love, kindness, compassion, and forgiveness from the Divine!

I hope this parable touches your heart.
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Remember that even though we may think of ourselves as quite flawless, the reality is that we each have committed many mistakes and trespasses. Before we can expect the Divine to forgive our terrible sins, it is important we show kindness to his people, by forgiving those who have wronged us. If there is anyone against who you harbor anger or resentment, then forgive them… if you feel someone has deeply wronged you or terribly insulted you, still forgive them… forgive them, so you too can be forgiven!

​Categories: 
A Message For You,   Ancient Wisdom, Guidance, Karma,     and   Special Messages

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