Sufism: Divine love in music and dance

Sufism is an age-old lyrical path, which is now captivating the attention of ‘New Age Gurus’ and ‘Seekers’ alike. A Sufi is humanity’s most passionate poet and conveys the messages of love and peace through mystical lyrics, music and dance. One of the greatest Sufi poets, Rumi, said that music is the highest expression of love and dance the highest expression of music.

The practice of Sufism is also called Tariqat, which is the Arabic word for ‘way towards the spiritual path.’ Sufism is not the legacy of any religion but a religion in itself, as it teaches equality, humanity and harmony and asks us to blend with the flow of life, musically. It enables us to get in touch with our real self and helps us to recognize the transcendence of our own being. To rejoice in our own true nature.

“I wish I could show you
When you are lonely
Or in darkness,
The astonishing light
Of your own being.”
-Hafiz

Sufism is an offshoot of Islam, but there is no religious barrier that divides its practice. Sufi is not a name given to an individual. It wholly means love. “One who is drunk in the divine love is a Sufi.” A Sufi can be a Hindu, Muslim, Jew, Christian, Buddhist, Sikh or Zen because when all barriers are broken and the ego is allowed to go away, one begins the dance of dervish, Sema.

Sema (Sufi dervish dance) is a spiritual connection where the dividing lines of different faiths blur, once the spirit begins to move and the restraint and limitations give way to freedom and bliss. In Sema bodies and minds that appeared deadened, numb and incapable of life or love begin to sway to the soft and gentle tune of music, giving way to the movement of mystical exaltation and spiritual unfoldment.

“Dance when you are broken open,
Dance if you have torn the bandage off.
Dance in the middle of the fighting,
Dance in your blood.
Dance when you are perfectly free.”
-Rumi

Sema is the ecstatic aspect of Sufism and is an integral part of a Sufi lifestyle. In this rapturous state of dancing, the Sufi becomes the entranced lover who is unaware of everything but the Beloved.

“I am happy even before
I have a reason.
I am full of light even before the sky
Can greet the sun or the moon.
Dear companions,
We have been in love with God
For so very, very, long.
What can Hafiz now do but
Forever dance!”
-Hafiz

The Sufi way of greeting is a slight bowing down with one hand on the heart. It suggests that when one is in love, one cannot but help touch his aching heart. The heart of a Sufi yearns for the beloved; it is but natural that he keeps his hand on his heart. It also implies that "My heart is open for you, I accept you just as you are" because Sufism is about the selfless experience and intention of moving towards a higher self, surcharged with love and devotion.

“If you are not one with the Beloved
Seek!
And if you are in Union
Rejoice!”
-Rumi

In today’s adrenaline-charged world where much of humanity lies battered and brutalized in the harsh glare of “I against you,” Sufism teaches the art of acceptance, submission, egalitarianism, peace and serenity. More and more of us feel the tension of being torn by what we see out there. Sometimes all we wish to do is crawl in a hole and sleep through all the conflicts that are pulling the world apart. Sufism is about differing with this conflict; this never ending process of “I,” “Me” and “Mine.”

It is about shutting out the brain, releasing the mauling ‘Me’ inside us, and opening up the heart in surrender to the cosmos with a selfless love and purity of heart.

“I tried to give you up
And live without the pain of longing.
I tried to be empty of all passion for you.
I failed.
Now, I know my master
Had I been a real man
I should have never tried.”
-Rumi

To know more about Sufism and understand its nuances, it is recommended that one read the translation works of Sufi saints and poets like Rumi, Hafiz and Rabiya Basri who had accepted the Tariqat (spiritual way) and lived the exalted life.

Rabiya Al Adawwiya – popularly known as Hazrat Rabiya Basri even shattered the myth prevalent in a male-dominated, orthodox and medieval society that a woman is not capable of reaching the spiritual depths to become a Sufi.

A great poet and Sufi saint, she was in a habit of going round the streets of Basra with a torch in one hand and a bucket of water in another. When asked about her curious act she replied that the bucket of water is to extinguish the fires of Hell and the torch is to burn down the Paradise, because most people do good deeds only through lust for Heaven and fear of Hell. She believed that Hell and Heaven are on earth itself and she preferred to choose it by service to humanity than following an empty religious ritual.

“I swear that ever since the first day you brought me to life,
That day you became my friend,
I have not slept.
And even if you drive me from your door
I swear again that we will never again be separated,
Because you are alive in my heart.”
- Rabiya Al Adawwiya/Rabiya Basri