is Love. We humans are love returning to Love. Sufis have taught great
wisdom to humanity regarding the clearest ways to make that "return."
The finest way is through remembering ( dhikr ) Allah at all times,
and knowing that Allah alone exists. The author wishes to thank all
his teachers, especially Arthur Smith, who have generously shared
their wisdom with him, and it is his humble wish to transmit what he
has learned to the reader. All mistakes are the fault of the author
alone. Allah knows best.
From the lips of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) came the
saying, " Mutu qabla an tamutu (Die before you die)". That was not
some kind of poetry, but states that some have managed to do as the
Prophet directed and that his directions were clear and do not mean
the various interpretations offered by those who guess. Sheikh Ahmad
al-'Alawi writes, "The Gnostics have a death before the general
death."
An emotional experience, in a sense, is a precursor to illumination,
but it is not the experience itself. This misconception leads many
astray. Though they are very often imagined to be the same, emotions
and spirituality are not the same (no matter how "lofty" the emotion
may be). Strong emotions may be experienced just prior to
illumination; terror most readily comes to mind. In addition,
amazement may be experienced. Sayyid Idrisal-Hashimi ( Sayyid Idries
Shah) ( June 16, 1924 – 23 - November 1996 ) wrote often about the
fact that emotions and spirituality are not the same.
Emotion is often used to develop or increase certain brain chemicals
that are needed. That is the purpose of situations that
develop"longing" and "love." Thesesituations are necessary, but not
sufficient for illumination. Thus, emotions have a role in
illumination, but it is not what is commonly imagined.
Some intelligent people are aware of the human spiritual situation; a
few of those that are talented in symbol manipulation can describe it
to others. Rare isit that one can do more than describe and hint at
solutions. Better to admit to not having that information, unless the
goal is to get attention needs met or make money.
There is a Law of Synchronicity (in the Jungian sense) involved in the
Sufi Path of Illumination. The Sufis say that there is no coincidence,
and that coincidences are merely Allah's orders. An important teaching
story isthe tale of Majnun and Layla. The tale of Majnun and Layla is
of course about many things, but likeRumi's relationship with Shams,
it demonstrates a specific technique, that is, the technique of an
uncompleted love that created and intensified longing.
The Troubadours attempted the same technique on a somewhat large
scale. Foreseeing the future, and anticipating a time when humanity
would go through a very difficult phase, the troubadours created the
"impossible romantic ideal" that would set to motion, in a very
fewpeople, one of the initial processes or steps to illumination.
The future time they anticipated is our present time. Through the
yearning that this impossible romantic ideal created, a chemical
correlation was produce in the brain.
As we know, bears hibernate in caves. They appear almost lifeless.This
is an analog to the practices of ancient shamans, and to Sufis who
practice the forty-day halvet (retreat), in which the Shaman would
enter a cave, have an experience ofdying, explore the spiritual
realms, and then is reborn as the Initiate or Master (just as the bear
is reborn each spring as it "wakes up" and leaves its cave).
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