| An Introduction |
| In 623 AD,45 devotees of the Prophet Muhammad formed a brotherhood, by taking an oath of fidelity to the Prophet.They would sit near the enterance of the Prophet's mosque at Madina, absorbed in contemplation.To them, God alone was perfect benevolence and love was the basis through which God could be understood and realised. |
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| Khilvat |
| These disciples of God who are termed as Sufis have in seclusion (chillah) perfected withdrawal of senses of perception from seeking sense gratification from the external environment. Prophet Muhammad used to go to the cave of Hira and pass days and nights in Khilvat. |
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| Marifat |
| There are moments in life when on the path of righteousness, conflict arises between what is morally correct and what the fulfilment of our insignificant goals of our physical life compel us to do. Should be then be selfish and concenterate on the gains that will accrue if we dilute morality at the altar of need gratification. When morality is substituted by greed to accumulate more than what is needed, there occurs stagnation in the perception of societies torch bearers. Is desire good and is to be avoided? |
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| Muraqaba |
| The contemplation on the Divine can only be undertaken once the perfect concentration on the nature of the Divine is understood. The difference between the contemplation on the Divine and Remembrance on the Divine is very subtle. One must always seek the blessings of the Murshid before training oneself individually. |
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| Murshid and Mureed |
| Why are instructions important?
Murshid is a God Realised Saint. The Murshid reflects the Divine Light of God just as the moon reflects the light of the Sun. The closest a disciple can get to God before Marifat is the feet of the Murshid. Those who follow the instructions of the Murshid surely attain Wehdat. (Final merger with the Divine beloved). |
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| Sama |
| Just as the planets revolve around the sun, the Murshid's consciousness revolve in the All Pervading Divine Light. The disciples of Prophet Mohammad go around the sacred Kaaba in Mecca practising Zikr. The disciples of Param Atman circumambulate the temple and perform this holy whirling ritual. |
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| Supplication |
| Supplication is the essence of worship. The Prophet Muhammad said that Duaa is the real worship for God responds to our supplications. Only when Tariqat(longing for the beloved is acheived) that Duaa propels spiritual evolution of the Murid. So Duaa is also Haqiqat where the Murid presents oneself before the altar of the All Pervading God. |
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| The Mystical Ecstasy |
| Mystical ecstasy is the only closely guarded secret of nature and needs dedication, sacrifice and labour far greater than what is required to unravel the mysteries of the visible universe. Nobody can sell the magic formula or manipulate society by offering a short cut. |
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| The Wonderland of Ashgal |
The wonderland of Ashgal practices at a preliminary level can be understood by the following :
Shugal I Aina - where the aspirant contemplates, meditates and concentrates on the Divine. The Zikr (remembrance of the Divine) is the booster which enables |
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| Zikr of the Divine |
| Khwaja says that the fastest way a murid can develop yearning for the Divine is by (remembrance of the Divine) Zikr. An aspirant must always extoll God through Zikr of the Divine names such as Rauf, Rahim and Aziz among others. In Zikr the act of contemplation and meditation assisted by invocation of the Divine results in spiritual puberty. |
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