The Persian word "darvīsh" comes from the Proto-Iranian "drigu-," ("needy, mendicant"), probably a cognate with the Sanskrit "adhrigu-" (perhaps "not poor"). "Der" in Persian means "a door," so in a Sufi context "dervish" has been interpreted as "one who goes from door to door." A dervish is someone who guides a Sufi Muslim ascetic down a particular path or "Tariqa" (a school or order, a mystical teaching and spiritual practice) to Haqīqah, "ultimate truth." The mystic goes beyond the conventional notions of "sharia" ("well-trodden path; path to the waterhole)" and is known for his extreme poverty and austerity. His focus is on the universal values of love and service, deserting the illusions of ego to reach God. In most Sufi orders, a dervish is known to practice dhikr ("remembrance"), the devotional acts in which short phrases or prayers are repeatedly recited (silently within the mind or aloud through physical exertions or religious practices) to attain an ecstatic trance. Their most common practice is sema ("listening"), which includes singing, playing instruments, dancing, recitation of poetry and prayers, wearing symbolic attire, and other rituals. The practice of sema is credited to the 13th-century poet/jurist/scholar/theologian Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī, whose followers founded the Mawlaw'īyya order (or "whirling dervishes"). Walked through the marketplace Rumi heard the rhythmic hammering of the goldbeaters, in which he heard the dhikr, "la ilaha ilallah" ("no god but Allah"), and became so entranced that he stretched out his arms and began spinning. In Rumi's words, For them it is the Sema of this world and the other. Even more for the circle of dancers within the Sema Who turn and have, in their midst, their own Ka'aba. (The Ka'aba ("The Cube")is the building at the center of Al-Masjid al-Haram in Mecca,Islam's most sacred mosque, toward which Muslims direct their prayers.) Rumi wrote mostly in Persian, but occasionally in Arabic, Turkish, and Greek. His poetry influenced Persian, Turkish, Azerbaijani, Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu, Chagatai, Pashto, and Bengali literatures, and translations continue to be popular, most notably in Turkey, Azerbaijan, and South Asia; he has even been called the "most popular" and the "best selling poet" in the United States.
We rarely hear the inward music, but we’re all dancing to it nevertheless, directed by the one who teaches us, the pure joy of the sun, our music master.
Thank you, Nalini, for your kind comment about the site. I hope you visit often and join in, as a commentator or creator. This is supposed to be a sort of electronic open mic, where people share their talents and their views.
The Persian word "darvīsh" comes from the Proto-Iranian "drigu-," ("needy, mendicant"), probably a cognate with the Sanskrit "adhrigu-" (perhaps "not poor"). "Der" in Persian means "a door," so in a Sufi context "dervish" has been interpreted as "one who goes from door to door." A dervish is someone who guides a Sufi Muslim ascetic down a particular path or "Tariqa" (a school or order, a mystical teaching and spiritual practice) to Haqīqah, "ultimate truth." The mystic goes beyond the conventional notions of "sharia" ("well-trodden path; path to the waterhole)" and is known for his extreme poverty and austerity. His focus is on the universal values of love and service, deserting the illusions of ego to reach God. In most Sufi orders, a dervish is known to practice dhikr ("remembrance"), the devotional acts in which short phrases or prayers are repeatedly recited (silently within the mind or aloud through physical exertions or religious practices) to attain an ecstatic trance. Their most common practice is sema ("listening"), which includes singing, playing instruments, dancing, recitation of poetry and prayers, wearing symbolic attire, and other rituals. The practice of sema is credited to the 13th-century poet/jurist/scholar/theologian Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī, whose followers founded the Mawlaw'īyya order (or "whirling dervishes"). Walked through the marketplace Rumi heard the rhythmic hammering of the goldbeaters, in which he heard the dhikr, "la ilaha ilallah" ("no god but Allah"), and became so entranced that he stretched out his arms and began spinning. In Rumi's words,
ReplyDeleteFor them it is the Sema
of this world and the other.
Even more for the circle of dancers
within the Sema
Who turn and have, in their midst,
their own Ka'aba.
(The Ka'aba ("The Cube")is the building at the center of Al-Masjid al-Haram in Mecca,Islam's most sacred mosque, toward which Muslims direct their prayers.)
Rumi wrote mostly in Persian, but occasionally in Arabic, Turkish, and Greek. His poetry influenced Persian, Turkish, Azerbaijani, Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu, Chagatai, Pashto, and Bengali literatures, and translations continue to be popular, most notably in Turkey, Azerbaijan, and South Asia; he has even been called the "most popular" and the "best selling poet" in the United States.
Thank you so much Duane for featuring my artwork on your esteemed blog and for your lovely and precise explanation of Sufism.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sakina, for your wonderful art. I can "feel" the dance.
ReplyDeleteRumi:
ReplyDeleteWe rarely hear the inward music,
but we’re all dancing to it nevertheless,
directed by the one who teaches us,
the pure joy of the sun,
our music master.
Beautiful poem,Excellent artwork. 😍
ReplyDeleteBeautiful paintings and a wonderful venue to exhibit them.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Nalini, for your kind comment about the site. I hope you visit often and join in, as a commentator or creator. This is supposed to be a sort of electronic open mic, where people share their talents and their views.
ReplyDelete