From: SWZwick@aol.com
Date: Tue Feb 17 2004 - 13:44:41 GMT
Regarding Sufism, Islam, and the MOQ, I'd say that Sufism (or Alevism, which
is the brand of Islam practiced in Turkey) is definitely a mystic tradition
and the Alevis I know do in fact place intellectual values above societal
values, and mystic values above intellectual values. (Many Alevi spiritual leaders
are, in fact, atheist -- they would describe themselves as spiritual rather
than religious). Alevism is very close to Zen, and there is a 40-step process
for achieving enlightenment -- but there's also an ethnic identity among
several Alevi groups. Without digressing too far from the MOQ theme, I'd say that
when they get bogged down in who can and cannot trace his or her lineage back
to Ali, they embark upon a path away from the true Alevi path and away from the
MOQ.
As to the question of how Sufism (or, in this case, Alevism) could influence
the more dogmatic brands of Islam that are weraking havoc on the world, there
is a quite simple and rational answer: basically, Alevis are in the camp that
says that Mohammed had a mystic experience in his cave and was a bona fide
holy man while living in Medina, but that when he moved to Mecca and became a
warrior and a politician, he ceased to be a holy man and became instead a worldly
man. They clearly differentiate between the "inspired" early verses of the
Koran, and the later verses, which they say came from Mohammed's intellect
rather than from his mystic center.
You could say that Mohammed's ruminations on the world led him to a mystic
experience, and while still freshly aglow with this experience he began to
preach and to try and interpret his experience in light of traditions around him.
While this experience was still fresh, he made quite a lot of sense. The
Alevis tend to try and focus on what they perceive as spiritual passages, and
ignore worldly passages. You can go to an Alevi culture festival and drink beer,
dance, listen to incredible music, and generally have a very good time.
To say that they are thriving in Turkey, however, is a bit of an
overstatement. They still suffer quite a bit, and do much better in Europe -- where they
can openly express their culture without worrying that a mob will storm the
hotel they are staying in and burn it down, as happened in the town of Sivas
just over a decade agooo
In einer eMail vom 17.02.2004 05:20:09 Pazifik Normalzeit schreibt
hockaun@pc.jaring.my:
> Hello Khalil,
>
> Before we go further with the discussion on Islam and how it might relate
> to the MOQ, I would like to find out how "mainstream" Islam views Sufism.
>
>
> I understand the Sufi tradition still has a following in the West,
> especially in the UK and in certain countries such as Turkey where the
> secular environment has allow this particular branch of Islam to exist if
> not to flourish without persecution. My readings and understanding of
> Sufism all stem from the underlying premise that unstructured dynamic
> appreciation of the universe leads to a level of insight which allows
> reality to be perceived without the distinctions that ordinarily come
> with "things".
>
> Historically, Islamic tradition and Buddhism converged in Central Asia
> immediately after the 7th Century following the expansion of the
> Caliphates eastward. The Buddhist influences on Sufism is unmistakable to
> an outside observer - and even to the traditionalist muslim, bith Sunni
> and Shia - to the extent that they would regard Sufism as the Devil's
> Work and those engaging in it would be commiting shirik - the worshipping
> of another other than Allah. The Bamiyan Buddhas in Afghanistan were
> destroyed by the Taliban to eradicate the alien cultural past which could
> have very well been accommodated by Sufism.
>
> I understand that mainstream Islam is very literal and dogmatic, even
> within the Hadith and Quran-only camps, and allows room for spiritual
> experience only within the prescriptions of the literal Quran. Sufism on
> the other hand represents the experiential side of Islam, the
> non-rational, non-logical path that correlates with the Zen approach. The
> perception of emotionalism and rationalisation for violence in mainstream
> Islam has been the result of the deadly work of the zealous few but as
> long as the majority are cowed by the dogmatic imams and their brethren,
> there is no room for a moderate and erudite Sufism to emerge.
>
> Islam is in the throes of a practical real world struggle with its own
> dogmas. Do you think there is a chance for Sufism to emerge once again,
> finding common ground with the other religions of the world ?
>
> Rgds
>
> Khoo Hock Aun
>
>
>
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