Sufism

You alone exist; I do not, O Beloved!
You alone exist, I do not!
Like the shadow of a house in ruins,
I revolve in my own mind.
If I speak, you speak with me:
If I am silent, you are in my mind.
If I sleep, you sleep with me:
If I walk, you are along my path.
Oh Bulleh, the spouse has come to my house:
My life is a sacrifice unto Him.
You alone exist; I do not, O Beloved!

– Bulleh Shah (Sufi Poet)

“The practice of Sufism: the practice of Sufism is the intention to go towards the Truth, by means of love and devotion. This is called the Tariqat, the Spiritual Path or way towards God.”

The definition of the sufi: the sufi is one who is a lover of Truth, who by means of love and devotion moves towards the Truth, towards the Perfection which all are truly seeking. As necessitated by Love’s jealousy, the sufi is taken away from all except the Truth-Reality. For this reason, in Sufism it is said that, “Those who are inclined towards the hereafter can not pay attention to the material world. Likewise, those who are involved in the material world can not concern themselves with the hereafter. But the sufi (because of Love’ s jealousy) is unable to attend to either of these worlds.”

From a speech given by Dr. Javad Nurbakhsh, Master of the Nimatullahi Order, at the Sorbonne, Paris, in 1963:

Web Source: What is Sufism

Sufi Links

• Hafiz Poems
• Rumi Poems
• Sufi Poets– Poetry by great Sufi Mystics such as Rumi, Hafiz, Omar Khayyam and Rabia – al Basri

• Books on Sufismat Amazon.com
• The Heart of Sufism by H.J.Witteveen
• The Shambhala guide to Sufism
• Sufi Relatedresources on the Web

Picture by: Richard (from Oxford Islamic Centre)