and experience it at close quarters.This longing gives rise to the possibility
of quest conceived of as a way. A way implies the existence of a wayfarer.
Those who have travelled all the way become the possessors of special
knowledge and may act as guides for the novices. In practical terms, they
are the mentors or the teachers - Muslim
pirs
or
murshids
, Hindu or Sikh
gurus
, etc., in other words charismatic leaders who gather their followers
around themselves and mediate their access to salvation. In certain cases,
the scriptures can replace the need for a living guru (
Guru Granth
of Sikhism).
Sometimes it is the tomb of the saint that serves as the focal point. It
becomes a place of pilgrimage and the saint performs the same functions
after death as were ascribed to him during his lifetime. He mediates and
acts as a bridge between the believer and God. This is common both to
Sufism as well as some branches of Christianity.
In short, meditation seems to be a way of gaining a glimpse into the
ultimate reality through an extraordinary experience brought about by its
practice. It is a phenomenon found in many diverse religious traditions.
Islamic Mysticism:
Tasawwuf
The mystical trend in Islam is called
tasawwuf
and is an act of devoting
oneself to a way of life aimed at achieving a mystical union with God. Broadly
speaking, it can be described as an intensification of Islamic faith and practice.
2
In general, Sufis have always looked upon themselves as true Muslims,
who take most seriously God’s call to find proof of His existence in His
creation, that is, both in the world spread in front of them and the self.
They talk about the importance of reconciling the
shariah
and the
tariqa
.
2
For a brief introduction to the Islamic faith and practice see
Islam
by Farida Khanam, Goodword
Books, New Delhi, 2001.
