What is the main goal of Sufism?

The Sufism aims communion with God through spiritual realization; soul being the agency of this communion, and propounding the God to be not only the cause of all existence but the only real existence. It may provide a vital link to understand the source of religious experience and its impact on mental health.

Is Rumi a Buddhist?

Rumi is often described as the best-selling poet in the United States. He is typically referred to as a mystic, a saint, a Sufi, an enlightened man. Curiously, however, although he was a lifelong scholar of the Koran and Islam, he is less frequently described as a Muslim.

What is a Sufi master?

A Sheikh or shaykh (Arabic: شيخ shaykh; ; pl. شيوخ shuyūkh), of Sufism is a Sufi who is authorized to teach, initiate and guide aspiring dervishes in the islamic faith. He distracts himself from worldly riches and women.

What do Buddhism and Sufism have in common?

After all, both Sufism and Buddhism have long histories, wide geographic ranges, and great diversities of schools and masters, each with its own individual assertions. For example, Abu Yazid Bistami (804-874 CE) introduced into Sufism the concepts of fana and khud’a from the influence of his teacher, Abu ‘Ali al-Sindi.

Why do Sufis go on spiritual adventuring?

For Sufis, the objective is to go on a journey of “spiritual adventuring” in order to reach spiritual enlightenment, join the brotherhood and connect one’s soul with God (Meier, 1991). In doing so, a Sufi is able to become as close as possible to reaching the Garden of Eden (Waines, 1995).

Did Buddhism borrow from Islam?

Buddhist borrowings into Islam, however, were not limited to Sufism. In this regard, Manichaeism, another major Central Asian religion, often served as the bridge. One possible example is the account of previous lives of the Buddha as a bodhisattva, known in medieval Christian sources as Barlaam and Josaphat.

How do you become a Sufi?

Knowledge of the Qur’an, prophet, and doctrines of Sufism is accumulated and a potential Sufi needs to go through several stations/paths (Tariqah) before being accepted into the shaykh’s group and presented with a garment that represents the joining of brotherhood. This period could last up to three years (Waines, 1995).