A unique and little-known religion, Sufism follows a mystical teaching and a way of life that has had an enormous though largely unrecognized impact on both the East and West for four thousand years.
The Sufis are as diverse as the countries in which they've flourished-from Morocco to India to China-and as varied as their distinctive forms of art, music, poetry, and dance. They are said to represent the mystical heart of Islam.
Any theory which is difficult to define is going to cause problems for people who like to have instant answers, and this could explain why some of the more impatient members of society would question the meaning of Sufism. In this modern era of technology, cell phones, the internet and all the instant information we constantly get fed, it is possible to lose sight of the deeper meaning of life and the value of enlightenment.
People who follow Sufism reject formal religious rules and believe in an open-minded attitude. The reluctance of a Sufi to be categorized or compartmentalized makes them pretty frustrating for those who would prefer to have the whole concept neatly packed up in a little box, ready to be handed to people all neat and tidy. The fact is that sometimes beliefs cannot be packaged up into one system or set of teachings, and will overlap considerably, including some elements of both Islam and Christianity for example.
The Sufis are as diverse as the countries in which they've flourished-from Morocco to India to China-and as varied as their distinctive forms of art, music, poetry, and dance. They are said to represent the mystical heart of Islam.
Any theory which is difficult to define is going to cause problems for people who like to have instant answers, and this could explain why some of the more impatient members of society would question the meaning of Sufism. In this modern era of technology, cell phones, the internet and all the instant information we constantly get fed, it is possible to lose sight of the deeper meaning of life and the value of enlightenment.
People who follow Sufism reject formal religious rules and believe in an open-minded attitude. The reluctance of a Sufi to be categorized or compartmentalized makes them pretty frustrating for those who would prefer to have the whole concept neatly packed up in a little box, ready to be handed to people all neat and tidy. The fact is that sometimes beliefs cannot be packaged up into one system or set of teachings, and will overlap considerably, including some elements of both Islam and Christianity for example.
The fact that Sufism does not have a start date, a bit like a DVD, can be enough to put people off, because here is a movement which refuses to be tied down by time or by events. There are no strict doctrines or books to memorize, but there is plenty of poetry and song devoted to the Sufi phenomenon. A poet called Rumi who produced a good deal of it 800 years ago is often read and studied by those who fund Sufism rocks their boat. If you like structure and fixed ways to worship you are going to find Sufism a bit tricky.
Followers of Sufism say it is a science rather than religion and this can be a turn off for those who think of science as something you do in a laboratory. Yet there are many branches of scientific knowledge and it is an enlightened person who can consider other options for understanding the world we live in for, let's face it, such a short time.
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