SUFISM

The spiritual path of Sufism is impossible to describe accurately, in a way which will be in agreement with all the various views, because it is experienced differently by each practitioner.  In the words of Al Ghazzali, 11th century mystic, 'Sufism is based on experience, not on premises.'  So each person's experience of Sufism is valid, and all the words you can say about Sufism are a secondary to the experiences.

With that said, the following are some of my thoughts and views of Sufism, having been practitioner for just 5 years.

What resonates so well in me is the openness, and total acceptance to all the various paths people have to find the divine in their lives.  It offers a specific set of practices, that can be utilized if you like them, without giving up any other beliefs you may also like. Sufism is the path of the heart, with the main focus being the opening of the human heart.  No dogma.  No one telling you what your experiences should be, who you should pray to, or what hoops you have to jump through to please some higher being. The practices are offered with the intent that the practitioner move more deeply into personal experience of the divine.

Sufi practices help the seeker start to view everything as a reminder of the divine. As we go one step further we start to view everything as a manifestation of the divine.  One step beyond that brings us to a realization of total unity with everything.  Everything, everyone, and every aspect of reality is god. (Strange stuff to try to communicate to strangers over the Internet!)

What I practice is truly an American Sufism, with a lineage that goes back to India, and before that to Islam.  As Sufism changed in India, so it is changing here in America.  I find great guidance and much inner peace in doing the practices of both Hazrat Inayat Khan who brought Sufism to the west around 1911, and of his American disciple Mushid Samuel Lewis (1896 -1971).  Hazrat Inayat Khan spoke eloquently about the unity of religious ideals; that all religions, at the heart of it, are pointing at the  same truth, and that if you think your finger pointing at the truth is better than someone else's, you've lost sight of what it is you're pointing at, and are now focused on your finger. Trying to remember god constantly, and to see god in everything, and everyone around you, is really quite difficult, and rewarding..

I consider myself a beginner on this path.  I am in first grade, and much looking forward to coming back next year, because I am already wildly in love with the second grade teacher!

Some practices I enjoy and other sources of inspiration:
Various breath practices and meditations
Zikr- (Practices of remembrance) usually repeating the phrase :
 La illah ha illa 'lla  (Arabic: There is no reality except god.)
Ishq allah ma boud lillah (Arabic: God is love, lover and beloved.)
The writings of Murshid Samuel Lewis ("God is your lover, not your jailer!")
Rumi's poetry (especially the translations by Coleman Barks)
Hafiz' poetry (my favorites are the translations by Daniel Ladinsky)
Hazrat Inayat Khan's writings
Repeating:  Om Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram  (Hindu: Go God, Yay God! Yay! Yay! God!)
The Dances Of Universal Peace: Simple circle dances done while singing sacred phrases from the world's spiritual traditions.  These can go very deep, and are a fairly accessible path, even for people who are not drawn to other practices.

Buddhist practices of Thich Nhat Hanh.  Especially the meditation :
(On the in breath) Breathing in, I calm my body.
(On the out breath) Breathing out, I smile.
(On the in breath) Dwelling in the present moment,
(On the out breath) I realize this is a wonderful moment.

Wazifa practice, saying one or more of the 99 most beautiful names, while sitting, walking, or other activities.