Conference hydra::dejavu

973.0. "The Sufis" by AYOV18::BCOOK (Zaman, makan, ikhwan) Tue Jan 31 1989 08:50

Where does one start? (The Tao which can be written is not the real Tao...)

Though closely associated by outside observers with Islamic beliefs the Sufis 
are, in a sense, timeless and not attached to any faith or religion. The other
face of the coin is that they are in complete accord with the Inner Spirit of
all of the major religions.

Rather than try to give an historical treatise, I'd rather outline a few of
the potent points that I have culled from the literature. These should be seen
as a very personal understanding (or lack of) redundant and not complete.

1. Learning how to learn
	Step 1 in the process. Not seen as necessary by many.

2. Action not institution
	No need to go sit in a cave in the Himalayas, or church on Sunday.
	Limits in the cognitive process - action steps past the block.
    
3. Right time, right place, right people
	Points to the limitations of ancient teachings. Why person A will
	be given different tasks to person B. Why person A will be given 
	different tasks today than he was yesterday. etc

4. Teaching material is multi-level and interactive
	Sufi teaching material does not try to tell you anything. What
	is important is your reaction to the material. Do you grow as
	a result of reading/doing it?

5. Books represent fossilized teaching
	Therefore limited. Fossils are fine, you can get a lot of information
	from them but they lack life and the flow is one way and therefore not
	adaptive.

6. Speak to each according to his understanding
	Sounds patronizing? If you find it so, perhaps that's the important
	thing to be grasped. Everyone wants a saint as his teacher, perhaps
	not a good idea (communication gap) All that a teacher needs to have
	is that which is needed by the student.

7. No fixed form of teachings
	A natural corollary of 3 and 6. Best way of telling: When is a Sufi
	group not a Sufi group?

8. Transcending the limitations of manhood
	The greatest level of human achievement in the 'real' world is
	seen as the lowest level of the Real world. With help and hard
	work it IS possible to fly, to become aware.

9. A living teacher is necessary
	Only a live teacher can see what the next step for the student
	(dervish) is. Interaction is essential.

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Needless to say, I'm no expert on Sufism. I've been reading Sufi books avidly 
for over a year, talked the ideas over with others and tried to turn the
reading and the thinking into action. Shake off complacency, open my eyes,
raise my awareness and...live.

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Further Reading:

	Strongly recommend anything by Idries Shah, the leading public
	contemporary exponent of Sufism.