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idea of an inner understanding of God, knowledge.
Sufi means ‘wool’. Tasawwuf means SufismàTradition started out with the deprivation of life by structural, rigid, lifestyle. Everything denies the comforts of life. |
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earliest form of Sufism in Islam, companions of the Prophet who ate little, did not smile or laugh, etc.
(Ascetic renunciation.) “The spiritual pilgrim must put aside even permissible pleasures in order to pursue the path single-mindedly.” Early Islamic idea of pietyàspartan in their living, have complete trust in God (lives off of breadcrumbs, no use of pillows). Deny worldly desires. |
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| God, the ultimate understanding of reality, goal of Sufim |
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| the Sufi path to true understanding, perfect religion, perfect character. Each Sufi has his/her spiritual lineage that traces back to particular path of Sufism, and then back to the Prophet himself. SO, Muhammad is the ultimate source of Sufi wisdom and practice. |
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wrote a book of Sufi cosmology, included mystical ideas
Connected cosmology to Sufism. Declared that Muhammad (not the physical prophet) “is a cosmic and pre-existent, point” , or mediator between creation and God. Neoplatonism is framework for Arabi’s cosmology. God is divine and never-changing. The world is always changing. One must understand the relationship between the unified, never-changing God, and the crazy world. |
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famous Persian Sufi poet, put Sufi ideas into poetic form, the Song of the Reed Flute
about separation from God and reed pipe’s desire to be reconnected. |
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| annihilation of the self in God. Passing away of the individual self, the dissolution of the individual ego in God; a complete identification with the Divine Unity; the final stage in the Sufi quest. The final goal of a spiritual journey and realization that there is a God, right before ones death. |
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| the Sufi guide. Pir means master. Shaykh or pir stands in the place of the Prophet, or God. This man has superior knowledge, knows best, and disobedience is endangerment. Shaykh may direct his disciples to marry or work. |
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| Sunni theologian turned mystic, critic of philosophers. Relied on philosophical method to examine the foundations of belief—found Sufism. Concluded that theology only reinforces belief if one does not question its origin. Finds satisfaction to the question: How do we arrive at truth without help of authoritative teacher, an imam? * Auto-biography called Deliverance from Error. |
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