Sufism is the path of love. Sufis say: Your innermost core is emptiness, pure sky, or nothingness. They call this fana or dissolution. The first layer around fana is that of baqa or individuality, what Hindus call as atman, soul, or self. But the soul is already a step away from your being. Buddha calls this as no-self or anatta , dissolution or disappearance.
Your innermost being is non-being. Nothing is there, or only nothing is... At the centre is fana , dissolution, disappearance. Even at the point of baqa or individuality, you do not meet God, though very little of you is left there, maybe a thin line. Even that has to disappear in fana . Only then you attain God.
Sufism is among the easiest and a unique path to achieve ultimate flowering. It is not a religion but the way... It is the art and science of correct living through a systematic understanding and following of austerities. This path has three pillars which form the basis: Meditation, master and the remembrance Zikr qulb or repeating the remembrance at the heart centre; tasubbre sheikh or remembrance of the master and marakba or meditation. The association of the master is satsang , and the world of the master is satnam or the only scripture. Thus, the entire edifice of the Sufi path rests on the Master.
The word Master does not refer to a specific person. This is the state of spiritual awareness. As an individual you cannot see beyond your understanding. And as you are, you cannot envision a master. This is the reason the masters appear from time to time to manifest that state of awareness, the light absolute and the path laid down by other masters...
Most do not see beyond physical appearances. You need to feel the undercurrent of consciousness behind name and form. A master presents truth according to the context... The maser's presence enables us to experience love, awareness and compassion to take that leap of faith. A master is the bridge, a guide towards our own inner master...
The master assures you that he has experienced the moments of inner joy, love and trust. You can trust only when you are ready to go into insecurity. If you are ready to sail your boat without a map to navigate the unknown! Trust requires immense courage. Because only a courageous person can say yes!
In the beginning, trust is a feeling. However, in the final flowering, it is being. If you can trust, something will always happen and will help you to grow. You will be provided for. Whatsoever is needed at a particular time will certainly be provided. Such is the beauty of trust. Thus, by and by, you learn the ways of how existence goes on providing and caring for you.
Sufis use stories and parables. These are not to entertain you. These are teaching devices. Each parable or story indicates something. Parables are like the fingers pointing to the moon.
Sufi masters use meditation as one of the pillars for transformation. The master uses his energies to help bring about transformation in you. Meditation works like an energy that is communicated to you. Sufis call this tawajjuh , meaning attention. In doing so, the master uses various centres from where the energy is communicated to you...
A master can only help you in removing the obstacles so that meditation happens. Get integrated in the moment. Listen. Become. Achieve fana , nothingness, the dissolution.
Excerpted from the writer's Meditation: The Way to Self-realisation.