Transcript Tasawwufx
The Middle Eastern World ca. 622 AD Byzantine Persian Greek Christian Zoroastrian Indic Arabia Early Muslim GNOSTICISM - GNOSIS Greek Philosophy Christianity Gnostic Mysticism Tasawwuf “Sufism” Tariqa Shari’a Haqiqa Fana aur Baqa (Nirvana) ‘ilm Vs. ma’arifat Ruz-i-Alast Wahdat – ul – Wujud The One-ness of Being Sufism is the spiritual philosophy and the folk religion of Islam Silsilah Pir o Murshid Murid Khalifa Kabir’s Nirguna Poetry Oh Companion That Abode Is Unmatched, Where My Complete Beloved Is. In that Place There Is No Happiness or Unhappiness, No Truth or Untruth Neither Sin Nor Virtue. There Is No Day or Night, No Moon or Sun, There Is Radiance Without Light. There Is No Knowledge or Meditation No Repetition of Mantra or Austerities, Neither Speech Coming From Vedas or Books. Doing, Not-Doing, Holding, Leaving All These Are All Lost Too In This Place. No Home, No Homeless, Neither Outside or Inside, Micro and Macrocosm Are Non-Existent. Five Elemental Constituents and the Trinity Are Both Not There Witnessing Un-struck Shabad Sound is Also Not There. No Root or Flower, Neither Branch or Seed, Without a Tree Fruits are Adorning, Primordial Om Sound, Breath-Synchronized Soham, This and That - All Are Absent, The Breath Too Unknown Where the Beloved Is There is Utterly Nothing Says Kabir I Have Come To Realize. Whoever Sees My Indicative Sign Will Accomplish the Goal of Liberation. Shaykh – Pir – Murshid – Khwaja You should be in the hands of your Pir like a corpse in the hands of the washerman… Caretakers of the Universe Wali Allah Intercession Wilayat Khalifa Bhakti and Nirguna Mysticism •Amir Khusrau (1253–1325 CE) •Kabir (1398-1518) •Guru Nanak (1469 –1539) Silsilah Sufism India’s Mystic Traditions Mongol Invasions Islam in India A Story of Khwaja Gharib Nawaz of Ajmer It is said –During his tour, Khwaja sahib (R.A), Ohududdin Kirmani (R.A) and Shaikh Shahabudin(R.A) were sitting together at a place and discussing some religious point of faith. Suddenly a young boy with a bow and arrow in hand passed by Khwaja Sahib (R.A) saw him and said, " The boy is the future king of Delhi." And his prediction proved to be true and boy became the king of Delhi with the name of king Shamsuddin Altamash and ruled the country for about 26 years. The Mongol Invasions – th 13 Century Qutbuddin Haider – “Nizamuddin Awliya said that when he was in a state of ecstasy he would hold red hot irons in his hands and bend them like soft wax, making necklaces and bangles which he then wore.” QH told the Muslims of Turbat to flee to India – he said that he had been intimated that the Mongol armies were under the protection of a powerful Mystic Saint whom he would not be able to stop… Vernacular Mediums For example – Village Women’s songs • Chakki nama • Charkha nama • Lori nama • Shaadi nama • And others… First was God’s name And then His qualities In my mind I keep the Name And with each breath Say: La illah - Dwell in: il-Allah God Himself from the hidden treasure Has created the whole world artistically He has created it with His own power Say: La illah - Dwell in: il-Allah God Himself came out from the hidden treasure And showed Himself through the Prophet Say: La illah - Dwell in: il-Allah In the presence of God the Prophet is chief Whose teachings have given us support in both worlds Say: La illah - Dwell in: il-Allah The Prophet’s khalifa is Ali, who is dear to him And whose disciples are our Pirs Say: La illah - Dwell in: il-Allah Allah, Muhammad and Ali Are our leaders whom we trust most And obey as slaves Say: La illah - Dwell in: il-Allah Our pir has taken our hands in his He has connected us with all his heart May he keep this connection forever Say: La illah - Dwell in: il-Allah Love – Separation – Longing – Beauty – Beloved The Indian concept of the “Virahini” (Sassi, Heer, Radha, Gopis) The seeking soul in a state of “Firaq” as “Virahini” / “Birahini” The idea of the Beautiful Divine Beloved desired by all – Krishan / Kishan / Kanhayya Krishan Kanhayya and Gopis Amir Khusrau & Khwaja Nizamuddin Awliya Poetry Music Sama Qawwali