Sufism

[Mithrea]

Sufism (and this is a very limited definition but for anyone who doesn't know what it is . . . ) is a most simply a mystic branch of Islam.

I found this "outline" and found it to be a very basic introduction to Sufism but at the same time very well put together and comprehensive (at the introductory stage).


SUFI TRADITIONS
by Zos Imos

"The following is a brief summary or basic overview of Sufism as i understand it, through study, practice and experience. It is presented in outline form to facillitate easy reading and review. Written by request, i try to address only the most basic and fundamental issues."

http://www.webcom.com/~gnosis/sufi.mystica.html

[FLipsiDE]

The great Poet Rumi was a Sufi mystic... There is a poem of his that I simply adore and I cannot find it. Grr... I have it somewhere at home.

An interesting bit is that Afghanistan is the home of many Sufi sects and the Taliban pretty much outlawed the whole sect because of it's mystical leanings. Now that they are out of power the sufi gatherings are very popular again.

Most mystics, regardless of religion, are pretty cool. Buddhist, Sufi and Christian Mystics all seem to get along marvelously when placed in the same room. It's hard to be fundamentalist when you believe that the journey is personal.

[Mithrea]

I dated a man a while back from Iran who was Muslim and when I tried to explain him what Wicca and paganism are he said "Ahhhhhh Sufi." It was the closest thing for him to compare it to and he was focusing on the that personal aspect to make the comparison. Not that I'm comparing the two really but I found it fascinating that he could from his perspective.

[Danustouch]

There are a couple of interesting links in a thread I posted a while ago on Islam.....to sufi sites.

http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?threadid=8094&highlight=Sufi

[FLipsiDE]

Wow Mithrea, that is very cool. I can see where he could draw the connection but it's not one I would have expected either.

There is a series of excellent hard sci-fi novels, Red Mars, Green Mars and Blue Mars and the Sufis show up and provide some interesting viewpoints to the story. Great books, did I mention that?

[Mithrea]

:eyebrow:

by Kim Stanley Robinson, perhaps?

I will definitely have to check them out. They look very interesting and I'm no newbie to sci fi. Did I mention, how devastated I am that a friend of mine just informed me that when he flew to LA for a friends birthday party last November, Ray Bradbury was at the party? :lol: :wah:

Wyrdsister posted a link (in Books) to a new website to help people trade books. Maybe I can find them there ;) Thanks for the suggestion Flip :)

[FLipsiDE]

I have a book about Rumi and I tried to find that poem. No luck... something about him being a bird in heaven and being the most beautiful bird imaginable. And he came to a tree that was the most beautiful tree imaginable and right beside the most beautiful spring imaginable and that's when he knew he wasn't really in heaven. It was as beautiful as HE could imagine, but heaven was God's imagination and this just wasn't nearly enough.