Sufism for Western Seekers

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Sufism for Western Seekers

By Dr. Stewart Bitkoff

2221 Skyhigh Drive

Bartonsville, PA 18321

September 2011

A Sam Story*

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Once there as a spirit!al traveler ho like other men orke", ha" a #amily, an"

helpe" care #or his home an" comm!nity$ A""itionally, this man as blesse"ith the capacity to e%plain some o# the eternal tr!ths in bea!ti#!l, ritten

lang!age$ &oever, something as lacking in his riting an" it ha" limite" !se$

As the years ore on an" this man str!ggle" ith a"versity an" sickness,

something happene"$ 'ra"!ally, a so#tness an" ten"erness appeare" in his

ritings$ (his as the missing ingre"ient, an" as it as a""e", tho!san"s ereable to "erive bene#it$

) )

________

) As per his ishes, to shiel" the teacher*s i"entity, Sam is a pse!"onym !se" thro!gho!t

this man!script$

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Contents

Page

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Chapter

I- My eligious !raining

II- "etting Started

III- #ur $irst Con%ersation- &ife is All a'out Me(

I)- #ur Con%ersation Continues- unger Pains that Can+t ,e

Cured With $ood

)- Sufism and the Mystical School ,egin to ase the unger)I- Sufis are %eryday People &i%ing &ife as a Prayer

)II- .isco%ering and Choosing #ur igher Sel%es in an

/pectation 0 ewards 1ind of World

)III- Are 2ou eally Saying We Can Co-Create #ur eality3

I4- Ancient !eachings 5eed a 67stCentury 8pdate

4- Su'mission of Will9 $reedom of Choice and eal &ife

Spiritual /perience

4I- #rdinary People Shining /traordinary &ight Into the World

4II- Proof9 Miracles9 ,elief and Mo%ing #n $rom $irst School

4III- %eryday Spirituality

4I)- !ra%eler+s Creed

Story:The Star Child

Appendi/ A: Article- ;!he Mystical School9< 'y .r= Stewart ,itkoff

Appendi/ ,: Inter%iew- Sadi> M= Alam 0 .r= Stewart ,itkoff

!opic: #n Mysticism 0 !he Mystery School

$ootnotes

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Introduction

.any people, at some point in their lives, think,


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along the Path$ hether e realie it or not, all o# o!r lives are spent on a spirit!al

-o!rney9 in"ee", every one o# !s is a spirit!al traveler$ hen #ace" ith crises o# spirit in

o!r lives, e o#ten erroneo!sly think that e m!st retreat or isolate o!rselves #rom the

in or"er to #ollo o!r spirit!al nat!re$ =n #act, the opposite is o#ten tr!e,

there is m!ch learning an" enlightenment to be #o!n" in hat o!l" otherise be

consi"ere" m!n"ane or or"inary$

nlightenment can be achieve" in "aily li#e, "oing -!st abo!t anything9 an" both sets o#

conscio!sness, the every"ay an" the spirit!al, operate sim!ltaneo!sly$ 6ike an onion, o!r

levels o# conscio!sness an" aareness are m!ltiple9 in time, the spirit!al traveler learns to

operate m!ltiple levels, to help sel# an" others reach toar" complete, balance" living$

(ra"itionally, this is the ancient, nat!ral ay o# spirit!al "evelopment$ (he co!rse o#

st!"y is in"ivi"!al, !niC!e to the speci#ic person, an" the o!tcome o# this teaching is a

spirit!al traveler ho is able to !se his higher capacity in every"ay li#e to help sel# an"

others$

=t is my hope that in rea"ing an" learning abo!t these spirit!al e%periences, yo! ill be

inspire" to strive #or yo!r on higher p!rpose every"ay along the Path$

= searche" #or 'o" an" #o!n" only mysel#$= searche" #or mysel# an" #o!n" only 'o"$

S!#i Proverb)

What is Sufism3

!ra%eler5 When friends ask me what I study, and I try to explain, I find it hard to put

into words, what is Sufism? Help me understand so I can gie a clearer

explanation.

Master5 !ne of the great teachers offered, "long #efore there was a name $Sufism%

there was a reality. &ow there is a name without a reality.' What is meant#y this is that there has always #een a way to connect with and experience

ultimate (ruth) this spiritual path of learning existed long #efore

traelers, in the late *+'s, gae this way of learning its present name-Sufism. t the time, local ascetics wore a distinctie woolen $soof% ro#e

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and #ecame known for this. &ow this name, or spiritual form, for many

followers exists without a corresponding inner reality. !ften today, what

you see in the world represented as Sufism is an empty shell of its formerself.

(his ancient /ath of spiritual deelopment is #ased upon connection withand experience of the Diine. (his connection occurs in daily life doing a

ariety of seemingly ordinary actiities. It inoles study with a teacher

and the awakening, through direct contact with (ruth, of latent spiritualcapacity) this is done so the traeler can help others. (his (ruth or

uniersal essence, the spiritual traeler seeks and experiences, is the

underlying energy or fa#ric of created forms.

(his /ath existed long #efore there were religions) this way of learning is

at the heart of the great religions) it is the underlying spiritual energy that

gies eerything in the unierse its form and su#stance. Inside each of us

is an aspect of this wondrous element. (hrough preparation, practicedeeloping our inner spiritual awareness, and 0race we unite with and

sere 1ltimate 2eality eery day.

3y teacher called this /ath - the Superhighway to 0od. 4or those who

wish to connect with (ruth and use their inner spiritual capacity to help

others) this form of learning is aaila#le in eery town and city.

Sufism is not something talked a#out or descri#ed in written words) it is a

uniersal essence that is experienced and known through inner spiritualcontact. 3uch like loe) no matter how many words you use- the

description is not the same as the actual experience. nd like loe which

e##s and flows, Sufism changes to fit the learner, time and place.

!ra%eler5 (his helps a little. Sufism is difficult to put into words #ecause it is a

spiritual experience and changes with each person. 5et, I hae #een inloe and know there are different forms of loe with many peaks and

alleys that are impossi#le to descri#e) and nomatter how pretty a poem

or loe song, it is not the experience itself.

Master5 2emem#er, eeryone is a spiritual traeler and in their long 6ourney

through this unierse, experiences many wondrous things. 7ountless

experiences go #eyond words and cannot #e written down- changing witheach moment and person. (his dimension is one of the elements that make

life so complex and #eautiful. If this is too difficult for those who ask

a#out us to grasp, ask them to define loe or een life itself. s theyponder all the possi#ilities then they will #egin to understand.

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(o me, it as all abo!t s!rvival an" ignorance$ &ere, there ere a b!nch o# ki"s aiting

to po!n" on me #or my belie#s, hich at the time, = "i" not believe$ 'o #ig!re$ So in or"er

to s!rvive = ha" to take the necessary action$ Goa"ays, sort o# hat is still going on in

the .i""le ast9 only ith a more "ea"ly o!tcome eligion is being !se" as a smoke

screen #or a poer play9 one gro!p o# people being ta!ght they are right an" the other is

rong, so, they can #eel goo" abo!t themselves an" take something #rom the other$

Perhaps, it as no "i##erent back then, as ell, in the ol" neighborhoo"$ Some ki"s

getting their e%citement, !sing religion, to po!n" on someone else$

= have to say, that m!ch o# my li#e "i" not really make m!ch sense to me, !ntil my mi"

an" early 20*s$ = as sort o# "ri#ting #rom one thing to another9 trying to "o the right

thing, b!t not having anything, inar"ly, to hol" onto an" provi"e "irection$ et, all

abo!t me :the times ere a changing* an" ere e%citing9 the E0*s an" early F0*s@ all

kin"s o# things ere going on an" = e%perimente" like others, b!t co!l" not connect,

inar"ly, ith anything, on a lasting basis$

+rom a spirit!al perspective, the early part o# my li#e as a preparation #or my moment

o# aakening, altho!gh = "i"n*t realie it at the time$ ertainly, there ere people an"

e%periences = #elt "eeply abo!t$ =n the C!iet moments, hen my min" as not #ille" ith

people hom = love" or my ork an" school, this lack o# inner peace an" "irection

p!she" me onar"$ =nar"ly, = as contin!ally searching #or an anser to the C!estion,

hy are e here hy is this orl" so transitory hat is li#e, hich is so #!ll o# -oy

an" pain, really abo!t

+or many people, it is the religion o# their birth that ansers this kin" o# C!estion9 their

religion provi"es an inner #o!n"ation an" basis #rom hich to b!il" their lives$ +or me, =

ha" to sip o# another c!p9 not being inar"ly satis#ie" ith any religion or philosophy,

!ntil = #o!n" an" e%perience" the 6ight$

=nar"ly, = as not at ease an" the last place = looke" #or personal com#ort as religion9

no one ha" ever tol" me there as a "i##erence beteen an o!ter teaching, or religio!s

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#orm, an" the inner e%perience, or essence, o# religio!s teaching$ =nar"ly, at their

higher levels, all the great religions are One9 an" this primor"ial energy hich gives them

s!bstance an" li#e is holistic, vibrant, 6oving an" !n"er the right circ!mstances, co!l" be

e%perience", in"ivi"!ally an" collectively$

An" all my inar" searching9 being lost, h!rt, lonely an" restless as a preparation #or

that moment o# aakening$ (he c!p ha" been empty, so the 6ight co!l" #ill it an" alter

the "irection o# my li#e$ An" in or"er #or any li#e to have real meaning yo! m!st #eel

passionately abo!t something, like the songbir" yo! have to have a song to sing, an" =

as looking #or mine$ (he :great emptiness or h!nger* as p!shing me onar"$

ithin each person there is an :empty space* that is aiting to be #ille" by the :6ight o#

'o"9* this emptiness mani#ests as an !nease, a "iscom#orting #ear an" ache9 it is this

!nease, a #riction o# sorts that "rives people onar", seeking to #ill this voi" ith all

kin"s o# things$ (he orl" is #ille" ith many stim!li an" the traveler, !nless aakene",

ill try to C!iet this primor"ial !nease an" res!lting #ear an" an%iety by mentally

attaching their conscio!sness an" bo"y to -!st abo!t anything$

Spirit!al aakening is like the s!nrise o# a ne "ay, #illing the traveler ith hope an"

-oy@ transcen"ing time an" space in one glorio!s moment o# !n"erstan"ing$ =t is an

e%plosion o# energy that li#ts the traveler onto a ne path9 setting the heart aglo ith

love, higher knole"ge an" "eep peace$ (his happene" #or me thro!gh my participation

in a mo"ern S!#i school$

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teaching that as !p"ate" into mo"ern lang!age !sing C!estion an" anser$ et

beneath this verbal e%change as a palpable spirit!al e%perience o# energy, an

essence that transcen"e" the moment an" connecte" !s to !niversal

conscio!sness$ (o the S!#i, this caress is calle" :the Belove"*s 7iss,* an" proves

to the traveler there is a reality beyon" o!r "aily lives that has alays love" !s$

Insider 8iew$ (ypically, most books on S!#ism are ritten by aca"emics, hose

e%perience is a scholarly one as oppose" to an act!al spirit!al traveler ho has

been initiate", embrace" an" has e%perience" the inner reality$ Accor"ingly, this

riting o##ers a #irst han" retrospective vie o# hat takes place beteen the

master, ho #or p!rposes o# con#i"entiality is calle" Sam, an" an in"ivi"!al

traveler, as oppose" to hat "i##erent e%perts an" a!thorities have st!"ie" an"


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astern -oke #ig!re, .!lla Gasr!"in, ho ill!strates ho he has mastere" an" in part

ma"e his tho!ghts ork #or him$

.!lla Gasr!"in as visiting his psychiatrist$ Among the many C!estions the

"octor aske" as5


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III- #ur $irst ;Con%ersation< @ &ife is all A'out Me(

So hat yo!*re saying is that #or the most part, this li#e is abo!t me$ hile hat = "o is

connecte" an" may be important to others, in the #inal analysis, it is all abo!t me9 no, "o

= have this right

/retty much.

So many religio!s philosophies talk abo!t giving to others, helping yo!r #ello man, an"

e are all one, connecte" spirit!ally, in the eyes o# 'o"$ So i# e take care o# o!rselves,

aren*t e taking care o# everyone =*m having tro!ble reconciling the to concepts

beca!se, #rom my backgro!n" in psychology, = kno that researchers have #o!n" that

even in giving, h!mans are helping themselves$ =n e##ect, there is no s!ch thing as tr!e

altr!ism$ (hen, hy is there so m!ch emphasis, #rom a religio!s an" spirit!al perspective,

on helping an" "oing right #or others

Because it is part of our #asic human, social o#ligation, liing in a larger community, to

help our neigh#or) it is a re;uirement of #eing a human #eing and part of the 6o# of all

religion is to set-up foundational social and moral alues. lso, spiritually, #y helping

others, for the most part, we are helping our self reach our personal highest potential) a

selfish-altruistic form of expression.

Sel#ish@altr!ism@ come again hen = help another, = help mysel#9 ho "oes that ork

Because when your neigh#or is hungry or suffering, you are hungry and suffering. !n a

spiritual leel, we are all one. nd since we are all one, life is a#out me and


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Does it really matter? (his is a#out you remem#er, what you hae to experience and

express. Because in your highest expression, as we all are connected, eeryone #enefits.

B!t = am so tire" o# riting things that a limite" n!mber o# people rea"9 an" e"itors give

me a har" time ith$ (his material is so important, an" m!st be share"9 yet it -!st "oesn*t

seem to #it the e%pecte" mol"$ = g!ess =*m -!st aiting #or the part here an" it seems to be taking a really long time$

So. 5ou want to complain. 2emem#er what your mother used to say, the complaint

department is on the sixth floor $and in the #uilding where you lied there were only fie

floors%.

S!re, = remember9 she as something$

She still is . . .

O7$ Go, let*s get back to the s!b-ect at han"$ $ $ hich is = #orget$

5our next #ook or, as it is more accurate to say, eeryone's next #ook. Because we are

all one . . . remem#er? It might #e worth descri#ing and explaining our spiritual

philosophy, as we understand it. 3ay#e ela#orate a little more on how we came to the

conclusion that life is all a#out


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he as an" hat he as to accomplish an" e%perience in his li#etime$ Sometimes, in

or"er to move #orar" e nee" to e%perience, hat on one level is :calle"* pain#!l9 yet,

#rom a larger perspective is all part o# the one an" lea"s to a higher aspect or realiation

o# sel#$ onsi"er the "r!nk ho can only come to tr!e spirit!al realiation a#ter years o#

"rinking an" sel#@"estr!ction$ &itting rock bottom, so to speak, is sometimes necessary

be#ore any #orm o# groth or enlightenment can occ!r$

nlightenment m!st come little by little@ otherise it o!l" overhelm$

="ries Shah)

(hat's good for a start. 9et's ela#orate a #it on our younger #rother's spiritual 6ourney

so that the reader can understand what we 6ust explained more clearly.

Ok$ =t*s not easy to share this ith everyone, b!t = hope that in sharing o!r rea"ers ill

begin to !n"erstan" o!r spirit!al philosophy a bit more clearly$

.on+t "o to San $rancisco

One "ay, = intro"!ce" my yo!ng brother Ben to Sam, my teacher in the mystical school$At the time, Ben as an aspiring m!sician an" #elt his best m!sical opport!nities o!l"

be in San +rancisco$ A#ter a #e visits, Sam ca!tione" Ben that he sho!l"n*t go to San

+rancisco an" that he sho!l" stay in Ge ork ity ith the people ho love" him$ Samin"icate" that Ben co!l" p!rs!e his m!sical career in Ge ork as ell as contin!e his

spirit!al st!"ies here$

Ben event!ally le#t #or San +rancisco$ 6ater, hen = aske" Sam hy he ca!tione" against

this move, Sam in"icate" he sa a "ark clo!" aro!n" Ben there9 an" i# Ben staye" here

he o!l" be protecte" by his #amily an" the 6ight$ Sam sai", his spirit!al 6ight e%ten"e"only so #ar an" he #eare" #or Ben in San +rancisco$

As the years t!rne" to "eca"es, Sam*s arning came to pass an" Ben "i" not meet ith

the overall o!tcome o# s!ccess he so!ght$ =nitially, Ben*s m!sic as s!ccess#!l, b!t thisas short live"$ =n #act, it as a very "i##ic!lt time #or Ben that sa a gra"!al, lengthy

"ecline in overall health, "r!g !se, an" his event!al br!tal "eath on the streets$

&o Sam as able to look into the #!t!re an" kno that "ark clo!"s #ace" Ben, at the

time, = as !ns!re$ Also, that e%perience ma"e me stop an" think i# = ere #ace" ith

this "ecision, o!l" = have "one the same thing o!l" = have change" my plans, base"!pon a arning by a man = -!st met &o many o# !s o!l" have "one that et, the

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pleas!res an" events$ (he big events, #or most people, like a e""ing, ne car, or a

promotion ere #e an" #ar beteen, an" not the so!rce o# the greatest "aily pleas!res in

li#e$

= remarke" to Sam, ho s!ggeste" o!r gro!p o# st!"ents atten"9 this approach co!l" be

very help#!l #or "epresse" patients, an" o!l" be !se#!l in the "elivery o# therape!ticrecreation services$ At hich point, Sam remarke",

=n time, = came to !n"erstan" that hile this approach to happiness an" health co!l" help

gro!ps o# people, alays, the orientation nee"e" to be on the in"ivi"!al9 the gro!p as

ma"e !p o# in"ivi"!als$ =t is the same ith spirit!al st!"ies$ (he orl" is ma"e a betterplace, one person at a time, by participating in spirit!al groth an" "evelopment$ =n this

ay, the hole orl" bene#its #rom the actions o# each in"ivi"!al$

Sam Saying

Sam !se" to say that most people "el!"e" themselves by striving #or happiness or peace$

Both o# these con"itions ere transitory an" co!l"n*t be maintaine"$ hat people sho!l"strive to reach as 'o"@ 'o" as all that as permanent$

What do you say we gie our readers an exercise) something practical to do that will

help them connect with this material?

So!n"s goo" L that*s hat helpe" !s get starte" in the beginning, hen e ere still so

#!ll o# C!estions$

.aily Acti%ity: ?uiet9 Alone !ime

Daily, each traeler should set aside *-C minutes to trael inward. (his is personal

time where the external noise of the world can #e turned off and an examination of themany parts of self may #e conducted. We need to go oer the days eents and examine

our thoughts and reactions. (he emphasis on the identification of trou#ling thoughts,

reactions and improe upon them- #y reacting differently or su#stituting different

thought patterns. If we hae made a mistake, try to correct it and moe forward. en#usy mothers or executies must #e selfish a#out this, and take the time to do something

for self. Some traelers do this at day's end and others wake up early) some hae time

during their lunch hour and others #y going for a walk after dinner. !er time, we mustrecognie the many seles so we can push them aside for a time, and unlock what lies

#eyond daily consciousness. 0oing inward may #e accomplished through prayer,

6ournaling, meditation, or at day's end o#sering the repeating patterns of thought.

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A Sam Story*

Once there as a spirit!al traveler ho like other men orke", ha" a #amily, an"

helpe" care #or his home an" comm!nity$ A""itionally, this man as blesse"

ith the capacity to e%plain some o# the eternal tr!ths in bea!ti#!l, ritten

lang!age$ &oever, something as lacking in his riting an" it ha" limite" !se$

As the years ore on an" this man str!ggle" ith a"versity an" sickness,

something happene"$ 'ra"!ally, a so#tness an" ten"erness appeare" in hisritings$ (his as the missing ingre"ient, an" as it as a""e", tho!san"s ere

able to "erive bene#it$

) )

________

) As per his ishes, to shiel" the teacher*s i"entity, Sam is a pse!"onym !se" thro!gho!t

this man!script$

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Acknowledgements

+rom a spirit!al perspective, one o# the central aspects to li#e concerns learning #rom

"aily e%perience an" realiing -!st abo!t any set o# circ!mstances can teach yo!

something$ Over the last 2 years, orking on this man!script has ta!ght me abo!t mysel#,

other people, an" the p!blishing process$ .y hope is that this combination o# #actors

res!lte" in a richer, more in#ormative rea" #or the spirit!al traveler ho picks !p this

book$

.y thanks to /ennine abrera an" Dr$ An"re .e!recky #or help "eveloping this

man!script an" getting the material rea"y #or the p!blisher$

A""itionally, thanks to Sam, ach, ""ie, Pa!l, Ben, Steve an" other spirit!al travelers

ho ere there in the beginning$

orking on this material, again has remin"e" me o# the on"er#!l heritage o# S!#i

learning an" great teachers ho came be#ore an" help provi"e "irection #ar into the

#!t!re$ (hese are the hi""en #rien"s o# h!manity, helping !s "aily to reach higher,

+inally, thanks to my #amily4#rien"s5 6ea, .elo"y, &olly, 'reg, Abby, mily, aity,

7elly, 6o!, ose, .ollie, Br!ce, /e##, Bren"a, .ike an" .arty9 all ho have shon me

that love tr!ly :r!les the planets$* Also, all li#e*s going an" "oing means very little !nless

there are people yo! love an" care abo!t to share -oy, learning an" e%perience$

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I- My eligious ,ackground

= as raise" /eish in Ge ork ity9 on my #ather*s si"e o# the #amily e ere

"escen"ants o# abbis an" accor"ing to o!r gran"parents, my great gran"#ather as a

renone" philanthropist, teacher an" abbi in the ol" co!ntry be#ore their lan"s ere

seie" by the ar$

(o me, my early religio!s training as very con#!sing9 very little o# it ma"e any sense

an" m!ch o# it as in &ebre, a lang!age = co!l"n*t !n"erstan"$ (here ere ancient

c!stoms = co!l"n*t connect ith9 an" the ol" stories o# the prophets hel" no real meaning

#or me$ onversely, both o# my gran"#athers #o!n" great -oy an" com#ort being part o#

their congregations9 an" = love" an" respecte" them very m!ch$

Also, both my parents ha" their on ay o# a"apting$ +or the most part, my #ather as

too b!sy trying to make a living to care m!ch abo!t all o# this9 altho!gh he trie" to #ollo

the ol" tra"itions as best he co!l"$ hile my mother !se" to la!gh at some o# the :ol"

black cost!mes or tra"itional "ress* that conservative /eish people ore, partic!larly, in

the s!mmer H0 "egree heat9 she !se" to say, these clothes ere not practical an" they

ere not trying very har" to #it into American li#e$ +!rther, she love" to atch the

vangelist, Billy 'raham on television, an" ha" her on private ay o# talking ith

'o"$

.eanhile on the streets o# .anhattan, = as constantly getting into #ights, beca!se =

as /eish$ Sometimes, the other hristian ki"s o!l" hi"e behin" parke" cars on the

street, -!st o!tsi"e the temple e%it, an" po!n" !s ith rocks as e came o!t #rom &ebre

school$ henever possible, = o!l" #in" one o# them an" as pay back@ kick their b!tt$ At

the time, getting even ma"e more sense to me, than, the things = as learning insi"e the

temple alls$

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(o me, it as all abo!t s!rvival an" ignorance$ &ere, there ere a b!nch o# ki"s aiting

to po!n" on me #or my belie#s, hich at the time, = "i" not believe$ 'o #ig!re$ So in or"er

to s!rvive = ha" to take the necessary action$ Goa"ays, sort o# hat is still going on in

the .i""le ast9 only ith a more "ea"ly o!tcome eligion is being !se" as a smoke

screen #or a poer play9 one gro!p o# people being ta!ght they are right an" the other is

rong, so, they can #eel goo" abo!t themselves an" take something #rom the other$

Perhaps, it as no "i##erent back then, as ell, in the ol" neighborhoo"$ Some ki"s

getting their e%citement, !sing religion, to po!n" on someone else$

= have to say, that m!ch o# my li#e "i" not really make m!ch sense to me, !ntil my mi"

an" early 20*s$ = as sort o# "ri#ting #rom one thing to another9 trying to "o the right

thing, b!t not having anything, inar"ly, to hol" onto an" provi"e "irection$ et, all

abo!t me :the times ere a changing* an" ere e%citing9 the E0*s an" early F0*s@ all

kin"s o# things ere going on an" = e%perimente" like others, b!t co!l" not connect,

inar"ly, ith anything, on a lasting basis$

+rom a spirit!al perspective, the early part o# my li#e as a preparation #or my moment

o# aakening, altho!gh = "i"n*t realie it at the time$ ertainly, there ere people an"

e%periences = #elt "eeply abo!t$ =n the C!iet moments, hen my min" as not #ille" ith

people hom = love" or my ork an" school, this lack o# inner peace an" "irection

p!she" me onar"$ =nar"ly, = as contin!ally searching #or an anser to the C!estion,

hy are e here hy is this orl" so transitory hat is li#e, hich is so #!ll o# -oy

an" pain, really abo!t

+or many people, it is the religion o# their birth that ansers this kin" o# C!estion9 their

religion provi"es an inner #o!n"ation an" basis #rom hich to b!il" their lives$ +or me, =

ha" to sip o# another c!p9 not being inar"ly satis#ie" ith any religion or philosophy,

!ntil = #o!n" an" e%perience" the 6ight$

=nar"ly, = as not at ease an" the last place = looke" #or personal com#ort as religion9

no one ha" ever tol" me there as a "i##erence beteen an o!ter teaching, or religio!s

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#orm, an" the inner e%perience, or essence, o# religio!s teaching$ =nar"ly, at their

higher levels, all the great religions are One9 an" this primor"ial energy hich gives them

s!bstance an" li#e is holistic, vibrant, 6oving an" !n"er the right circ!mstances, co!l" be

e%perience", in"ivi"!ally an" collectively$

An" all my inar" searching9 being lost, h!rt, lonely an" restless as a preparation #or

that moment o# aakening$ (he c!p ha" been empty, so the 6ight co!l" #ill it an" alter

the "irection o# my li#e$ An" in or"er #or any li#e to have real meaning yo! m!st #eel

passionately abo!t something, like the songbir" yo! have to have a song to sing, an" =

as looking #or mine$ (he :great emptiness or h!nger* as p!shing me onar"$

ithin each person there is an :empty space* that is aiting to be #ille" by the :6ight o#

'o"9* this emptiness mani#ests as an !nease, a "iscom#orting #ear an" ache9 it is this

!nease, a #riction o# sorts that "rives people onar", seeking to #ill this voi" ith all

kin"s o# things$ (he orl" is #ille" ith many stim!li an" the traveler, !nless aakene",

ill try to C!iet this primor"ial !nease an" res!lting #ear an" an%iety by mentally

attaching their conscio!sness an" bo"y to -!st abo!t anything$

Spirit!al aakening is like the s!nrise o# a ne "ay, #illing the traveler ith hope an"

-oy@ transcen"ing time an" space in one glorio!s moment o# !n"erstan"ing$ =t is an

e%plosion o# energy that li#ts the traveler onto a ne path9 setting the heart aglo ith

love, higher knole"ge an" "eep peace$ (his happene" #or me thro!gh my participation

in a mo"ern S!#i school$

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teaching that as !p"ate" into mo"ern lang!age !sing C!estion an" anser$ et

beneath this verbal e%change as a palpable spirit!al e%perience o# energy, an

essence that transcen"e" the moment an" connecte" !s to !niversal

conscio!sness$ (o the S!#i, this caress is calle" :the Belove"*s 7iss,* an" proves

to the traveler there is a reality beyon" o!r "aily lives that has alays love" !s$

Insider 8iew$ (ypically, most books on S!#ism are ritten by aca"emics, hose

e%perience is a scholarly one as oppose" to an act!al spirit!al traveler ho has

been initiate", embrace" an" has e%perience" the inner reality$ Accor"ingly, this

riting o##ers a #irst han" retrospective vie o# hat takes place beteen the

master, ho #or p!rposes o# con#i"entiality is calle" Sam, an" an in"ivi"!al

traveler, as oppose" to hat "i##erent e%perts an" a!thorities have st!"ie" an"


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+!rther, it is thro!gh this internal !ni#ying energy that the spirit!al traveler

connects an" !nites ith ?ltimate (r!th$ Over the cent!ries, some have terme"

this ay o# learning an" e%periencing ?ltimate (r!th mysticism$

=slam thro!gh its mystical branch, S!#ism, is the orl"*s most recent ma-or

pro-ection o# this ancient ay o# spirit!al learning$ et, all religions have

available at their very center the e%perience o# ?ltimate (r!th9 this inner spirit!al

ay o# learning is the path o# the spirit!al traveler, an" is available to everyone all

o# the time$

+!rther, this path e%iste" long be#ore =slam or S!#ism an" may be e%perience" in

or"inary li#e, in"epen"ent o# S!#ism$ +or the spirit!al traveler, S!#ism an" this

ancient ay o# perceiving !ltimate reality are one an" the same$ hile many o#

the C!otes an" re#erences are S!#i ones@ similar vies, C!otes, an" inner spirit!al

e%periences are available thro!gh all spirit!al an" religio!s tra"itions$

One o# the #irst lessons ta!ght in the mystical school is ho to monitor "aily

tho!ghts an" #eelings$ =sn*t it amaing ho many tho!ghts an" #eelings pass thro!gh o!r

bo"ies an" min"s on a "aily basis Di" yo! ever stop to consi"er this 'ra"!ally,

thro!gh monitoring personal tho!ghts an" #eelings an" recogniing patterns, along ith

g!i"ance #rom the teacher on ho to e%amine the !n"erlying ass!mptions behin" these

patterns, the spirit!al traveler learns to master #l!ct!ations o# conscio!sness, being able to

si#t thro!gh an" C!iet them9 in or"er to connect ith hat lies beyon" "aily aareness$

hile some #eelings an" tho!ghts are en-oyable an" easier to p!sh asi"e than bothersome

ones, the spirit!al traveler, thro!gh practice, at speci#ic times, m!st be able to still all

tho!ghts an" #eelings$ (he ass!mption being that once this is "one, the aareness "eep

ithin, beyon" "aily cares, can be aakene"$ (his is the mystical process, p!shing asi"e

"aily tho!ghts an" #eelings, in or"er to connect ith o!r on inner higher conscio!sness$

6ike a television remote, e learn to ork the channels in o!r min", so e can

easily go to the "esignate" setting that plays (here is a .i""le

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III- #ur $irst ;Con%ersation< @ &ife is all A'out Me(

So hat yo!*re saying is that #or the most part, this li#e is abo!t me$ hile hat = "o is

connecte" an" may be important to others, in the #inal analysis, it is all abo!t me9 no, "o

= have this right

/retty much.

So many religio!s philosophies talk abo!t giving to others, helping yo!r #ello man, an"

e are all one, connecte" spirit!ally, in the eyes o# 'o"$ So i# e take care o# o!rselves,

aren*t e taking care o# everyone =*m having tro!ble reconciling the to concepts

beca!se, #rom my backgro!n" in psychology, = kno that researchers have #o!n" that

even in giving, h!mans are helping themselves$ =n e##ect, there is no s!ch thing as tr!e

altr!ism$ (hen, hy is there so m!ch emphasis, #rom a religio!s an" spirit!al perspective,

on helping an" "oing right #or others

Because it is part of our #asic human, social o#ligation, liing in a larger community, to

help our neigh#or) it is a re;uirement of #eing a human #eing and part of the 6o# of all

religion is to set-up foundational social and moral alues. lso, spiritually, #y helping

others, for the most part, we are helping our self reach our personal highest potential) a

selfish-altruistic form of expression.

Sel#ish@altr!ism@ come again hen = help another, = help mysel#9 ho "oes that ork

Because when your neigh#or is hungry or suffering, you are hungry and suffering. !n a

spiritual leel, we are all one. nd since we are all one, life is a#out me and


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4rom a social perspectie, here's an example. If your neigh#or is hungry and is

suffering, their pain and desperation may cause them to steal, hurt another or commit a

crime. In turn, this raises local insurance rates, people #ecome generally fearful and

you may een hae an item taken from your own home. lso, in some parts of the world,

the hungry and desperate, in exchange for food and self-esteem are #eing taught their

enemy is anyone who doesn't #eliee, in a religious sense, as they do. In exchange for

needed food, they are #eing used and manipulated into #ecoming killing machines) #eing

used to further selfish plans of indiidual power #rokers. It's interesting to note that

suicide #om#ers rarely come from wealthy or politically influential families #ut from

poor ones.

dditionally, research of olunteers indicates that for the most part, olunteers who help

as little as > hours a week are #oth physically and mentally happier than their

counterparts who do not olunteer. Scientists are starting to suspect that somehow

helping others sets off #iochemicalproperties in the #rain and #ody that contri#ute to

our oerallhealth and well #eing.

O7$ =*m starting to get it $ $ $ So to help another might also help my overall health an" the

general ell being o# the comm!nity aro!n" me$ Go, to go back to the original

"isc!ssion, yo! mean that most o# the spirit!al learning an" personal e%pression, in this

li#e, are basically #or mysel#9 not others $ $ $ not even my #amily$

/retty much$

(hat*s to!gh to rap my hea" aro!n"$ 6i#e is all abo!t me, b!t isn*t my #amily a part o#

me

If it will help, let's go #ack to the #eginning of your life. &ow, why did you come here?

As = !n"erstan", = came to this li#e to e%perience, create, ork, learn an" serve$

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5es. (hat is correct. We all come here to express who we are, and the highest

expression of anyone's


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Does it really matter? (his is a#out you remem#er, what you hae to experience and

express. Because in your highest expression, as we all are connected, eeryone #enefits.

B!t = am so tire" o# riting things that a limite" n!mber o# people rea"9 an" e"itors give

me a har" time ith$ (his material is so important, an" m!st be share"9 yet it -!st "oesn*t

seem to #it the e%pecte" mol"$ = g!ess =*m -!st aiting #or the part here an" it seems to be taking a really long time$

So. 5ou want to complain. 2emem#er what your mother used to say, the complaint

department is on the sixth floor $and in the #uilding where you lied there were only fie

floors%.

S!re, = remember9 she as something$

She still is . . .

O7$ Go, let*s get back to the s!b-ect at han"$ $ $ hich is = #orget$

5our next #ook or, as it is more accurate to say, eeryone's next #ook. Because we are

all one . . . remem#er? It might #e worth descri#ing and explaining our spiritual

philosophy, as we understand it. 3ay#e ela#orate a little more on how we came to the

conclusion that life is all a#out


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he as an" hat he as to accomplish an" e%perience in his li#etime$ Sometimes, in

or"er to move #orar" e nee" to e%perience, hat on one level is :calle"* pain#!l9 yet,

#rom a larger perspective is all part o# the one an" lea"s to a higher aspect or realiation

o# sel#$ onsi"er the "r!nk ho can only come to tr!e spirit!al realiation a#ter years o#

"rinking an" sel#@"estr!ction$ &itting rock bottom, so to speak, is sometimes necessary

be#ore any #orm o# groth or enlightenment can occ!r$

nlightenment m!st come little by little@ otherise it o!l" overhelm$

="ries Shah)

(hat's good for a start. 9et's ela#orate a #it on our younger #rother's spiritual 6ourney

so that the reader can understand what we 6ust explained more clearly.

Ok$ =t*s not easy to share this ith everyone, b!t = hope that in sharing o!r rea"ers ill

begin to !n"erstan" o!r spirit!al philosophy a bit more clearly$

.on+t "o to San $rancisco

One "ay, = intro"!ce" my yo!ng brother Ben to Sam, my teacher in the mystical school$At the time, Ben as an aspiring m!sician an" #elt his best m!sical opport!nities o!l"

be in San +rancisco$ A#ter a #e visits, Sam ca!tione" Ben that he sho!l"n*t go to San

+rancisco an" that he sho!l" stay in Ge ork ity ith the people ho love" him$ Samin"icate" that Ben co!l" p!rs!e his m!sical career in Ge ork as ell as contin!e his

spirit!al st!"ies here$

Ben event!ally le#t #or San +rancisco$ 6ater, hen = aske" Sam hy he ca!tione" against

this move, Sam in"icate" he sa a "ark clo!" aro!n" Ben there9 an" i# Ben staye" here

he o!l" be protecte" by his #amily an" the 6ight$ Sam sai", his spirit!al 6ight e%ten"e"only so #ar an" he #eare" #or Ben in San +rancisco$

As the years t!rne" to "eca"es, Sam*s arning came to pass an" Ben "i" not meet ith

the overall o!tcome o# s!ccess he so!ght$ =nitially, Ben*s m!sic as s!ccess#!l, b!t thisas short live"$ =n #act, it as a very "i##ic!lt time #or Ben that sa a gra"!al, lengthy

"ecline in overall health, "r!g !se, an" his event!al br!tal "eath on the streets$

&o Sam as able to look into the #!t!re an" kno that "ark clo!"s #ace" Ben, at the

time, = as !ns!re$ Also, that e%perience ma"e me stop an" think i# = ere #ace" ith

this "ecision, o!l" = have "one the same thing o!l" = have change" my plans, base"!pon a arning by a man = -!st met &o many o# !s o!l" have "one that et, the

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pleas!res an" events$ (he big events, #or most people, like a e""ing, ne car, or a

promotion ere #e an" #ar beteen, an" not the so!rce o# the greatest "aily pleas!res in

li#e$

= remarke" to Sam, ho s!ggeste" o!r gro!p o# st!"ents atten"9 this approach co!l" be

very help#!l #or "epresse" patients, an" o!l" be !se#!l in the "elivery o# therape!ticrecreation services$ At hich point, Sam remarke",

=n time, = came to !n"erstan" that hile this approach to happiness an" health co!l" help

gro!ps o# people, alays, the orientation nee"e" to be on the in"ivi"!al9 the gro!p as

ma"e !p o# in"ivi"!als$ =t is the same ith spirit!al st!"ies$ (he orl" is ma"e a betterplace, one person at a time, by participating in spirit!al groth an" "evelopment$ =n this

ay, the hole orl" bene#its #rom the actions o# each in"ivi"!al$

Sam Saying

Sam !se" to say that most people "el!"e" themselves by striving #or happiness or peace$

Both o# these con"itions ere transitory an" co!l"n*t be maintaine"$ hat people sho!l"strive to reach as 'o"@ 'o" as all that as permanent$

What do you say we gie our readers an exercise) something practical to do that will

help them connect with this material?

So!n"s goo" L that*s hat helpe" !s get starte" in the beginning, hen e ere still so

#!ll o# C!estions$

.aily Acti%ity: ?uiet9 Alone !ime

Daily, each traeler should set aside *-C minutes to trael inward. (his is personal

time where the external noise of the world can #e turned off and an examination of themany parts of self may #e conducted. We need to go oer the days eents and examine

our thoughts and reactions. (he emphasis on the identification of trou#ling thoughts,

reactions and improe upon them- #y reacting differently or su#stituting different

thought patterns. If we hae made a mistake, try to correct it and moe forward. en#usy mothers or executies must #e selfish a#out this, and take the time to do something

for self. Some traelers do this at day's end and others wake up early) some hae time

during their lunch hour and others #y going for a walk after dinner. !er time, we mustrecognie the many seles so we can push them aside for a time, and unlock what lies

#eyond daily consciousness. 0oing inward may #e accomplished through prayer,

6ournaling, meditation, or at day's end o#sering the repeating patterns of thought.

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) )

Documents

Sufism for Western Seekers