World Philosophical Heritage

Wisdom and teachings of
Sufism

295 quote(s) | Page 12 / 12

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E verything in the world of existence has an end and a goal. The end is maturity, and the goal is freedom. For example, the fruit grows on the tree until it is ripe and then falls. A farmer sows grain in the ground and tends it. It begins to grow, eventually seeds, and again becomes grain. It has returned to its original form. The circle is complete. Completing the circle of existence is freedom.

quote 2873 | Others Sufis Teaching
Nasafi, Essential Sufism, by James Fadiman & Robert Frager, Harper SanFrancisco, p.53

N o one who possesses snow would find any hardship in exchanging it for jewels and pearls. This world is like snow exposed to sun, which continues to melt until it disappears altogether, while the next life is like a precious stone that never passes away.

quote 2872 | Ghazzali
Essential Sufism, by James Fadiman & Robert Frager, Harper SanFrancisco, p.53

T he soul should take care of the body, just as the pilgrim on his way to Mecca takes care of his camel; but if the pilgrim spends his whole time in feeding and adorning his camel, the caravan will leave him behind, and he will perish in the desert.

quote 2871 | Ghazzali
Essential Sufism, by James Fadiman & Robert Frager, Harper SanFrancisco, p.47

I t is necessary to have a guide for the spiritual journey. Choose a master, for without one this journey is full of trials, fears, and dangers. With no escort, you would be lost on a road you have already taken. Do not travel alone on the Path.

quote 2870 | Jalâl ud Dîn Rumi
Essential Sufism, by James Fadiman & Robert Frager, Harper SanFrancisco, p.41

T he perfect mystic is neither an ecstatic devotee lost in contemplation of Oneness nor a saintly recluse shunning all commerce with mankind. The true saint goes in and out among the people, eats and sleeps with them, buys and sells in the market, marries and takes part in social intercourse, and never forgets God for a single moment.

quote 2869 | Abu Sa'id
Essential Sufism, by James Fadiman & Robert Frager, Harper SanFrancisco, p.40

Y ou will not be a mystic until you are like the earth-both the righteous and the sinner tread upon it-and until you are like the clouds-they shade all things-and until you are like the rain-it waters all things, whether it loves them or not.

quote 2867 | Bistami
Essential Sufism, by James Fadiman & Robert Frager, Harper SanFrancisco, p.40

I " and "you' are but the lattices,

In the niches of a lamp
Through which the One Light shines.
"I" and "you' are the veil
Between heaven and earth;

Lift this veil and you will see
No longer the bonds of sects and creeds.

quote 2866 | Shabistari
Essential Sufism, by James Fadiman & Robert Frager, Harper SanFrancisco, p.39

T he journey from this world to the next (to give up worldly things for spiritual things) is easy for the believer. The journey from the creatures to the Creator is hard. The journey from the self to God is very hard. And to be able to abide in God is harder still.

quote 2865 | Al-Junayd
Essential Sufism, by James Fadiman & Robert Frager, Harper SanFrancisco, p.38

W hatever you have in your mind-forget it; whatever you have in your hand-give it; whatever is to be your fate-face it!

quote 2864 | Abu Sa'id
Essential Sufism, by James Fadiman & Robert Frager, Harper SanFrancisco, p.37

T he Sufis are those who have preferred God to everything, so that God has preferred them to everything.

quote 2863 | Dhu-l-Nun
Essential Sufism, by James Fadiman & Robert Frager, Harper SanFrancisco, p.36

T he Sufi is absent from himself and present with God.

quote 2862 | Hujwiri
Essential Sufism, by James Fadiman & Robert Frager, Harper SanFrancisco, p.36

R emember your contemporaries who have passed away, and were of your age.
Remember the honors and fame they earned, the high posts they held and the beautiful bodies they possessed, and today all of them are turned to dust.
How they have left orphans and widows behind them.
No sign of them is left today, and they lie in the dark holes underneath the earth.
Picture their faces before your mind's eye and ponder.
Do not fix hopes on your wealth and do not laugh away life.
Remember how they walked and now all their joints lie separated and the tongue with which they talked lightly is eaten away by the worms and their teeth are corroded. They were foolishly providing for twenty years when even a day of their lives was not left. They never expected that death shall come to them thus at an unexpected hour.

quote 2861 | Ghazzali
Essential Sufism, by James Fadiman & Robert Frager, Harper SanFrancisco, p.28

I f you could get rid
Of yourself just once,
The secret of secrets
Would open to you.
The face of the unknown,
Hidden beyond the universe
Would appear on the
Mirror of your perception.

quote 2860 | Jalâl ud Dîn Rumi
Essential Sufism, by James Fadiman & Robert Frager, Harper SanFrancisco, p.23

T here is a battle between the self, the lower self, and the soul. This battle will continue through life. The question is, Who will educate whom? Who will become the master of whom? If the soul becomes the master, then you will be a believer, one who embraces Truth. If the lower self becomes master of the soul, you will be one who denies Truth.

quote 2859 | Sheikh Muzaffer
Essential Sufism, by James Fadiman & Robert Frager, Harper SanFrancisco, p.21

T he self is not bad in itself. Never blame your self. Part of the work of Sufism is to change the state of your self. The lowest state is that of being completely dominated by your wants and desires. The next state is to struggle with yourself, to seek to act according to reason and higher ideals and to criticize yourself when you fail. A much higher state is to be satisfied with whatever God provides for you, whether it means comfort or discomfort, fulfillment of physical needs or not.

quote 2858 | Sheikh Muzaffer
Essential Sufism, by James Fadiman & Robert Frager, Harper SanFrancisco, p.20

T he eyes of the dervish who is a true lover see nought but God; his heart knows nought but Him. God is the eye by which he sees, the hand with which he holds, and the tongue with which he speaks…. Were he not in love, he would pass away. If his heart should be devoid of love for as much as a single moment, the dervish could not stay alive. Love is the dervish's life, his health, his comfort. Love ruins the dervish, makes him weep; union makes him flourish, brings him to life.

quote 2857 | Sheikh Muzaffer
Essential Sufism, by James Fadiman & Robert Frager, Harper SanFrancisco, p.15

I 've spent my life, my heart
And my eyes this way.
I used to think that love
And beloved are different.
I know now they are the same.
I was seeing two in one.

quote 2856 | Jalâl ud Dîn Rumi
Essential Sufism, by James Fadiman & Robert Frager, Harper SanFrancisco, p.15

T he essence of God is love and the Sufi path is a path of love…. Love is to see what is good and beautiful in everything. It is to learn from everything, to see the gifts of God and the generosity of God in everything. It is to be thankful for all God's bounties.

quote 2855 | Sheikh Muzaffer
Essential Sufism, by James Fadiman & Robert Frager, Harper SanFrancisco, p.14

T hou didst contrive this "I", and "we" in order that Thou mightest play the game of worship with Thyself, That all "I's" and "thou's" should become one soul and at last should be submerged in the Beloved.

quote 2854 | Jalâl ud Dîn Rumi
Essential Sufism, by James Fadiman & Robert Frager, Harper SanFrancisco, p.14

K now, 0 beloved, that man was not created in jest
or at random, but marvelously made
and for some great end.

quote 2853 | Ghazzali
Essential Sufism, by James Fadiman & Robert Frager, Harper SanFrancisco, p.5

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