How do you Practice your Spirituality? A Sufi Perspective
Introduction by Cole Goodwin
Welcome to the The Spiritual Roundtable, an interfaith roundtable featuring a diverse range of spiritual belief systems in the Gorge Community.
Each week, spiritual leaders and learners will share their take on some of humanity's biggest questions, starting with: What does your spirituality mean to you? And ramping up into discussions about the nature of existence, the soul, the divine, and of course…a question as old as time itself: why are we here?
Roundtable writings will be published each Saturday and Sunday morning of the month.
Now take a deep breath… Meditate for a moment…And when you’re ready…keep reading to explore one of the many diverse faiths, belief systems, and philosophies that exist in our communities.
This Month's Question: What is your belief systems basic belief structure? What are some of the major celebrations or rites of passage? What are some of the core beliefs and major practices?
Why this question was chosen: This question asks us to examine the basic principles and values that guide our Spirituality and expand our understanding of the many paths one can walk to live a Spiritual life.
About Bobbie Harlow Combe
This past March, I moved with my husband from Tygh Valley, OR to take up residence in Prineville, OR. Most of my 72 years I’ve been on a spiritual journey beginning as a child, attending churches throughout my youth and adult life, that eventually led to the Shadhiliyya Sufi path in 2001. What is Sufism? Sufism is a spiritual teaching that leads to Oneness or Unity with God’s Presence. The meaning of the word Sufism is “to purify one’s heart”.
A Sufi Perspective
by Bobbie Harlow Combe
Bismi’llah ir-rahman ir-rahim
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate
For some, Sufism may evoke the image of whirling dervishes or remembrance of beautiful verse from well-known Sufi poets such as Rumi and Hafiz. I may have read a Rumi poem, but I had no idea about Sufism when I came upon it twenty years ago.
In America there are at least 17 Sufi orders and hundreds worldwide, attracting people from all walks of life. Each order has its own distinct practices depending on its lineage, geographical and cultural roots, guides, and teachers. Most orders have at least one Sufi guide, one who has traveled far along the path, who’s role is to spiritually guide and verbally instruct the disciple on the Sufi path. I am privileged to have as my Sufi guide Shaykh Muhammad Sa’id al-Jamal ar-Rifa’I, affectionately called Sidi.
In 2001, I unexpectedly crossed paths with my soon-to-be Sufi guide. He beckoned me without a word, revealed to me a glimpse of where I would be heading, opened the door and I entered. Little did I know what I would be asked to give up.
Surrender is an oft heard word in Sufism. As a follower of Sufism, in my journey towards the One, I am asked to surrender everything. Surrender is a process of emptying myself of beliefs, identity, memories, concerns, emotions, thoughts, …; completely trusting in the One. Surrender is to bring acceptance and love, over and over, to whatever arises in my consciousness from moment to moment, acknowledging it is from the One and returns to the One, thus setting me free.
“The word Sufism means to purify one’s heart” with “the goal of living closely with God and to live in the eternal experience of this Oneness … Sufism is a spiritual teaching that leads to Oneness or Unity with God’s Presence” says the Institute of Spiritual Healing.
Rosina-Fawzia al-Rawi writes “The core of Sufism is to allow us human beings to discover the Divine that we carry in our heart and take us to that which is sacred, thus transforming the world of manifestations into a place filled with the living experience of the Divine.”
I was immediately attracted to Sufism’s basic tenant that there is no deity but the ONE; no one, no thing exists outside of the One. I was familiar with the expression “we are all connected”, but I did not understand its deeper meaning until I entered this path: Every person and thing are from the Divine Essence of the One All-Encompassing Love -- everything is sacred, holy, and connected.
Sufism is a form of Islamic mysticism, yet it transcends religion. “There are as many paths to God as there are people,” is a well-known Sufi saying. My beloved guide Sidi wrote, “When you find the love, you find yourself. The secret is in the love. You are the love, not another. Everything is in the love, and everyone needs the love…this love knows no differences. If the Muslims, Jews, Christians, and the people of any other religion, knew their religion well, there would only be one religion, the religion of love, and peace and mercy.”
Sufism’s roots go back to and beyond the Prophet Abraham of the Bible. The belief is that Prophets were sent to humanity by God to turn the peoples’ hearts back toward the One, including the last Prophet, Muhammad. Sufism also acknowledges Jesus as a Prophet of God, that he was born of a virgin as recorded in the holy Quran. My relationship with both Jesus and the Prophet Muhammad, may God’s peace and blessings be upon them, continues to become richer and more meaningful.
My Sufi path is with the Shadhiliyya Sufi world-wide order. It is an order that places emphasis on “spiritual healing”. (Sufi whirling is not one of our practices.) It was the spiritual healing that attracted me to a workshop where ancient Sufi healing practices were taught.
I follow a well-worn Sufi path that has been preserved for centuries. Along this path are guideposts, the four “Stations of the Way” representing the four layers of the heart: Ego/Personality, Heart, Soul, and Secret. Within each layer are seven stations. Each station contains guidance and instructions for clearing the coverings over the heart that keep me in separation from All, the One.
Purifying the heart has many healing benefits. It is not a replacement for medical healing. This purification, or washing of the heart, involves a practice called Remembrance, reaching out to Divine support and guidance, surrendering to the Love, Compassion, and Wisdom of the One Love.
In application, Remembrance can be reciting the Name of the One and Names of the Divine Qualities (e.g., Love, Mercy, Strength, Protection), silently or out loud, with focus on one’s spiritual heart. I recite these names in Arabic, which is one of the sacred languages that carry specific qualities of tone, vibration and divine light. I allow my heart to be “washed” of meanings, beliefs, and experiences that can create doubt, confusion, sadness, pain, . . . This recitation also reveals the beautiful Divine Qualities I carry within.
Sidi wrote, “When anyone wants to live with God, he must wash with the holy water of truth. Each time he washes, he returns himself to be his real self, but he must open his heart and his ear, to be washed in the water that takes him from this earth and this body to the world of the soul and the heart of God—to the light.”
I am humbled by this effort to communicate some knowledge of Sufism in a few words. May I receive forgiveness for any errors. I am also honored by this privilege and acknowledge that only the surface has been scratched.
“And when the journey to God comes to an end, comes the beginning of the infinite journey in God.” -Igbal
Want to contribute to the Spiritual Roundtable? Read this first.
The Roundtable Mission and Vision
The goal of these roundtable writings is to:
Bring the spiritual community together.
Share ideas that elevate the human spirit.
Elevate the conversation around the spirit.
Embrace what is universal to all, while honoring what is special about each spirituality.
Center inclusivity and equity.
Promote our collective enlightenment.
Nurture civility and friendship between those with diverse belief systems in the Gorge.
Engage readers and spiritual seekers.
The Spiritual Roundtable IS NOT…
This is not a place for arguing about dogma.
This is not a place for ‘hating on’ or putting other belief systems down.
This is not a place for excluding, discriminating, or promoting fear or violence towards other people based on their race, color, ethnicity, beliefs, faith, gender, sexuality, ability.
This is not a place for hatred.
This is not a place for fear.
The Spiritual Roundtable IS..
This IS a place for hope.
This IS a place for joy.
This IS a place for comfort.
This IS a place for big questions.
This IS a place for learning.
This IS a place for sharing.
This IS a place for caring.
This IS a place for sharing what is special about your beliefs.
CCC News reserves the right to not publish any content that breaks with our mission, vision and values.
If you are interested in being included in the roundtable please email cole@columbiacommunityconnection.com
