THE SUFI APPROACH TO ISLAM

Transcription

1 Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim THE SUFI APPROACH TO ISLAM Finding Spiritual Healing and World Peace in these Troubled Times Ali Ansari ********

2 2009 Ali Ansari Carbondale, Illinois Ali Ansari 2/76 Surrenderworks.com

3 THE SUFI APPROACH TO ISLAM FINDING SPIRITUAL HEALING AND WORLD PEACE IN THESE TROUBLED TIMES Introduction Islam and Modern Psychology (Soul Psychology and the Emergence of the Authentic Self) An Interview Sufism and the Human Situation Understanding Current Events and the Roots of Suicide The Purpose of Struggle is to End Struggle Understanding the Sufi Tradition of "The Sunrise in the West" The Sufi Approach to Islam, Spiritual Healing and World Peace Islam Made Easy (Islam for Dummies?) The Future is Peace - Elements of Spiritual Psychology The Psychology of Islam in Context of World Events More Important than Learning The Way to World Peace Remembrance of God Alleviates Insanity: The Principles of Psychotherapeutics in Islam Acceptance of Surrender The Importance of Eliminating Reaction The Purpose of Death is Realization The Road to Wisdom The Importance of Active Affirmation and Confession of Faith in Maintaining Health and Vitality Ali Ansari 3/76 Surrenderworks.com

4 INTRODUCTION This book will take you straight to heaven, for that is, indeed, our reality. Life everlasting is not a difficult attainment. In fact it is not an attainment at all, it is simply the reality. It is not a choice we can make to accept or refuse. It is guaranteed by the very nature of our creation. We can however, choose to believe it, or not. And we will then behave accordingly. We can either accept it or reject it but we cannot and will not change it. Such is the fundamental statement of all religions and it is good news to some and bad news to others, depending simply upon the point of view you choose to accept. The only real differences between people are in their points of view, their opinions, but not in fact. From the standpoint of Spiritual Psychology, know one (yourself), and you know them all. This is why it is so often said that the prime directive, so to speak, of life is to "Know Thyself", or "Physician, heal thyself". Since differences of opinion are based solely upon personal viewpoint, it is relatively easy, if one can find a moment of dispassion, to shift one's viewpoint to the "other side", if for no other reason but to see what it looks like from there. That's how common ground is found, and agreements are made. We are different in ego, or personal self-assessment, but not in heart. Life is a long opportunity for us to learn to see things differently, from "both" sides, and to be able to shift at will from a material (personal) to a spiritual (generic) viewpoint. If things are not working well from one viewpoint, we mustn't feel trapped by that viewpoint, we must find in ourselves the freedom to view things differently, providing ourselves thereby with more choices. I would like to point out what both sides looks like, so that you, should you be of an exploring nature, may find in yourself that moment of dispassion and shift, however temporarily, with the purpose of seeing and feeling the basis for eternal health. The main and most commonly accepted viewpoint is that of those who are desperately attached to their egoic and illusory self, and the lesser is that of those who are willing, even eager to let it go. There are those who are eager to develop only their minds, in a sense of desperation based on competitiveness, impatience, survival and fear for provision, and those who are eager to develop their hearts, finding them to be more reliable, trustworthy and full of resource. We might refer to them as the people of ego attachment and the people of ego detachment. When dealing in matters of belief, we might also classify this difference as between those who can look forward to death and what follows, and those who fear it; or those who trust in God for love and providence, and those who fear for it. However, for both, Islam, the message of eternal life and how to live with it, comes as good news, as the "bearer of glad tidings". In it is confirmed that which is true of the religions that have come before it, and added knowledge of certainty and new revelations of use and value. The purpose of Divine revelation is to assuage the fears of the fearful and confirm the trust of the realized. Healing is the conversion factor at work, actively converting fear into assurance, ignorance into knowledge. Ali Ansari 1/76 Surrenderworks.com

5 Ego attachment manifests in two distinct ways, both having to do with religion. They are religious fanaticism and religious aversion, both protecting an illusion from discovery, and both having to do with hidden, but unnecessary, feelings of guilt. Both attachment and aversion are from fear - fear of loss, fear of losing what is perceived to be had or attained (with hard work, or not), and fear of losing the sense of self upon which our "survival" depends - the "haver", or the defender, as it were. But in the true knowledge of self and God there is yet a greater reward. The difference between ego and soul quality is not always easily distinguished since one is a reflection of the other and comes from it. This unclarity is the basis for most of the misunderstanding in religion and psychotherapy. For without the added discernment of the actually realized (spiritual masters, et al), it is very difficult to distinguish between ego and soul quality. But it is the salvation of this soul quality that is the purpose of religions and spiritual paths, not the salvation of the ego, which will quite successfully attempt to usurp the position of the soul, or true-self, as ruler of the heart/body complex. The ego will surely perish in the great awakening. Such is the promise of all religions for it is indeed the fact. The ego is a temporary loan, a functional fabrication, a pseudo-self, self-created to serve us for a duration of time in mortal existence, and is not to be taken seriously, as in given the full power of authority. It is the mistake of assuming the veil to be the reality in spite of our nagging conscience (nafs al-lawamma) that is the cause of all problems, physical, emotional, religious and societal. Clearly distinguishing between ego and soul-quality is the meat of the work of all real spiritual paths, teachers, healing therapies and religions. And Islam is no different. Without connection to its heart and soul, as reflected in the living presence of the Prophet and his family (Ahli bait), "Islam" becomes "merely" a religion, devoid of spirit, and a mere imitation. Like the ego, it becomes an "attempt" to replicate the reality. And that's where the people of any religion have gone wrong, and entered into separation. When the ego attempts to usurp the position of the soul, not only can it not succeed, but it knows that it is wrong and therefore needs to be excessively assertive in its claim to rightness. This results in oppression, of self and others, in the name of religion. So religion can be either self-repressive or spiritually liberating, and the choice is always up to the believer. This all-necessary recognition of the truth of real Surrender can only be gained (in Islam) from the Prophet himself in person, or in the person of his family (realized descendants) or their honored and realized representatives, who are often referred to as Khalifas, and are still and mostly to be found among the Sufis. It is they who are cleared, with permission from the Prophet through a chain of authorization, to teach, and to accept and verify the Surrender of the truly dedicated and sincere. And it is these sincere students who are the real teachers and who do the real service to Al-llah!, religion and humanity. Such is the "secret" of the famed "permission to teach" that is honored and respected in most transmission schools. And this is the Surrender (Islam) that is the central focal-point for the people of discovery and liberation. The rest are not considered wrong, simply choosing, for a variety of reasons, to prefer incompleteness in their education. Ali Ansari 2/76 Surrenderworks.com

6 Full and recognized realization is the necessary goal and the manifest success. This is the "Salvation" of the soul that is so highly misunderstood. Rabi`a al Adawiyyah, Al-llah!'s Grace upon her, one of the great Sufi saints of all time, said when overhearing a pious and obedient Muslim's claim to sanctity for having been born into a pious family and knowing for certain that he had never committed a major or minor sin according to the technical definitions of such in all the religious books, "Your very existence is a sin greater than any other". For he had clearly not attained the true point of his religion, which was his spiritual freedom from the bonds of his mortal existence and his true service to The One (Al-llah!). This spiritual education is imperative. Self-realization and the quest for it is the answer to the problems incurred by the dilemmas of life. Self-realization is the point of life and the right choice. Recognize and honor God, and God will recognize and honor you. It's that simple. Know One-ness, (Al-llah!) intimately and immediately. Use all religions and spiritual paths. Benefit from their teachings to realize the truth of your situation, before your life wastes away in front of your very eyes. ISLAM AND MODERN PSYCHOLOGY Soulful Psychology and the Emergence of the Authentic Self Soulful Psychology, as I call it, is "The Work". It is the actual practice of assisting in the emergence of personal soul and soul qualities into conscious manifestation. It is the work of "spiritual midwifery", if you will, for the emergence of the "Authentic Self", and is being practiced by all who have discovered it. They have concluded, in the course of their own involvement with it, that it is the most important work there is, and the doing of this work becomes their contribution to the healing of humanity and to the bringing of relief to the suffering. I define the word "psychology" as "knowledge of self", or "knowledge of the soul". Psyche to me means Soul. All of the supposedly "unknown" and investigated regions of the Self, no mater how classified or labeled, are still parts of the self and not something other. They may be clarified and understood, even dissolved and integrated, but they are not entities that can be "gotten rid of", so to speak. They are still parts of the Self. And if one investigates sufficiently into the nature and unity of creation, one can easily reach the conclusion that there is only Self, that everything is 'attached', so to speak, to everything else. And this is where the absolute monist concludes that "all is God, therefore I too am God, All is me." And this is true, as far as it goes. But this is also simply science and scientific investigation. In reality, there is nothing mystical about it at all. It is simply the "Human Situation". When all is known, the question still remains, "What to do?" This Work manifests in a variety of different ways, each according to the discovery path of the individual practitioner. I would like to bring to the fore the voluminous work done in this field by the great soul psychologists of the "pre-modern" Islamic civilizations, an era which we now call medieval history (although referring thereby mostly to European civilization). Nevertheless, it was at this time that the sciences of discovery and human potential were at the heights of glory in the neighboring "Islamic" world. However, rather than create a master work of referenced materials, which I'm sure is already done and easily found, I will prefer to allude only to the Ali Ansari 3/76 Surrenderworks.com

7 names and teachings of a few of the more noted masters of the age, and draw upon my own experience in study and discovery, to present to you my understandings and conclusions. These conclusions offer hope, and lead to a new era of dominance of Soul and Soul qualities over the fearful and reactive efforts of the frightened and traumatized "reactive" self, often referred to as the ego, or the artificial, or "replacement" self. These conclusions also lead to an understanding of the true meaning and purpose of Islam. This understanding will allow for its study, acceptance and implementation in the struggle for social equilibrium, peace and harmony. There is no doubt that Muslims have a great deal to offer to a groping and exploratory infant nation such as the United States. The time has come to put an end to the fear and ignorance that has kept us from benefiting from other cultures and religions. The Spiritual revolution has come and gone, and we are now quite aware of our spiritual nature. There remains but one persisting enigma. And that is - the meaning of Islam and the intention of the Muslim people. I believe that by writing this work, I can clarify that intention for both the Muslims and the "Western" people. And in the course of that, shed some light on the problems of both. And show how, by working together, we can bring a lasting unity and peace to the world. Coming from the standpoint of a devoted American Muslim and over 30-year believer and student-practitioner of the Islamic "Science of Self" known as Sufism, I have learned to rely upon and trust the principles of spiritual development and human and social sanity as taught in the classical Islamic way. I have found them successful in every way. So it is easy for me to realize the significance, importance and necessity for the advocacy of this "Work". I will not enter into a long list of human ailments all of which are more than well-known to any educated reader. Suffice it to say that never before in the history of the world has the hope of humanity sunk so low while in their desperation, self-deceiving world-marketers seek ever new ways to point out that we are at its heyday. I will assume that the need and necessity for the work of perpetuating spiritual evolution is obvious to the reader, and leave it at that. Not only is the work of true self-realization necessary for the assured happiness and "salvation" of each individual, training in the work itself will most certainly become a huge industry in the world of self-help, recovery, personal healing, medicine, psychology and psychotherapy. This work of which I speak is the heart of Islam and the meat of the Sufi way. And although the "work" of self-realization is by no means the exclusive property of Sufism, Islam or any other "way", it is interesting that Sufism pays its focused attention to the problem of resolving the "Human Situation". Sufism is at its very core the study and practice of the Psychology of the Soul, and well within the understanding of the average Muslim or Western seeker. In predicting the growth of this industry, I am of course assuming the survival of both the species and the souls of great teachers, as well as the desire for true education on the part of sincere students. I am not in the least disparaging of the enormous work done in the field of psychology and healing by the great souls of our time, most of whom are alive (thank God) and teaching as we speak. Their work is the foundation of the truly indigenous spiritual culture of Western civilization in the English language. I only wish to contribute my part. It will stand on its own merits, I am sure. All souls are, by their very nature, great. And deep within the heart of each one of us we can recognize and acknowledge that secret. However, it is only the ability to openly accept that Ali Ansari 4/76 Surrenderworks.com

8 greatness and make it effective that keeps us truly humble. It s for lack of knowing how to manifest the reality of our truth that outward pride and pretense appear to be necessary. And the only thing that holds us back from manifesting our greatness, and living rich and fulfilling lives, is fear. Fear is instilled. It is not innate. Fear is created by fearful people who use their energies to further an environment that encourages fear and punishes courage and bravery. That's why fearful people believe it to be exceptionally courageous and brave to live a rich and authentic life. Reaching to connect with our innate freedom from fear is the BlessingWay and the path to manifesting our inner greatness. The Sufi way of life provides an arena for full spiritual emergence. It literally insists upon it, considering it not only a goal but also a requirement for progress. That is why Sufism is famous for its spiritual guidance. Firstly, it works, and that is visible in the presence of the masters and their students. Secondly, it provides an historically proven pattern for success which is evident in the traditions of Islamic science, literature, poetry, agriculture, architecture and psychology, and thirdly, it provides encouraging, affirming and developing authentic spiritual teachings and daily practices, the source of which can be relied upon and trusted. So, rather than discouraging the emergence of soulful truth in your daily life, as does the basically accepted common denominator of the egoic 'provision and fear-oriented' mentality, in the Sufi way, spiritual maturity and conscious, aware soul-inhabitation are considered to be the requisites for true success. The challenge is then, rather than fabricating a more fanciful and alluring illusion, to free ourselves from the residing influence of our history of fabricating alluring illusions, and thereby learn to recognize, trust, honor and speak from a truth that is inarguably our own, and from the very essence of our souls. It is the magnetic attraction of this quality of authenticity that stimulates faith and trust, engenders confidence and increases prosperity. One who is true to himself will cause no harm to others. Nowadays, in a society in desperate need of help, just about everyone who has, through hard work and diligence, discovered the secret of self and authenticity, is making a great deal of money by teaching it to others. It's not the acquisition of money that is being noted here. That indicates only that there is an urgent and increasing demand for the teaching of authenticity. What is of note is this: that an integral part of the richness and fullness of the authentic life is doing the "work" of passing it along in the increasingly best way possible. In this way, seekers and teachers are rapidly contributing to the evolution of humanity. In my opinion the single most popular and easily comprehended 'definition' for this work is the one coined early on by Mahatma Paramhansa Yogananda. He is the master who introduced the work as "self-realization". Think of that. He established the Self-Realization Fellowship in the forties or fifties. It is still going and very strong. Gurdjieff was the first, I believe, to simply refer to it as "The Work". It was named "The Fourth Way", by his students, but I'm not sure he actually referred to it as such. He emphasized it as self-remembering, and called it the essence of health and awareness. He devised a variety of methods to impress upon the students the importance of the practice. There are many schools and definitions of this work, started by masters both east and west, and I will likely name a few and their teachers, in the course of offering a view of the scope, history and importance of this work. Not all spiritual practices actually define themselves as oriented Ali Ansari 5/76 Surrenderworks.com

9 toward the goal of "Salvation" or "the Emergence of the Authentic Self", but most of them originated as a result of the teachings of a truly realized person. In any case, all real masters teach from their experience. It is in actuality, the only way that authenticity can be taught, or it would no longer be authentic. How we learned, and what we learn from it, is what we teach. And now I want to pass on to you, to add to your personal arsenal of wealth and knowledge, and to confirm that you are on the right path, the keys and essentials of self-understanding from the ancient, yet modern, science of Sufism. In keeping with its well-known reputation for being the "Path of Love", and the "Way of the Heart", Sufism is also entitled to be called "The Islamic Science of Spiritual Psychology". In Islamic psychology, a true understanding of the science of self is considered to be essential for both worldly and spiritual success. Sufism is the honored and accepted way of reaching selfrealization in the light of Qur`anic teachings and the revealed practices of Muhammad, the most recent and final prophet of the true way to the world. And there is only one religion. It is the religion of healing the heart from the heart, with the Peace, Love, Mercy and Justice from the Divine. Believing in love and acting according to your belief is religion. And that religion has nothing to do with language, or dogmas void of true understanding or meaning. It is well known that the One True God looks not unto the outward works of men but to the inner worth. And if we honor our inner worth, we are honoring God, and ourselves. And if we dishonor it, we are dishonoring only ourselves. This true understanding of self, and passing it on, is the essence, the point, and the reality of religion itself. It is the 'work', and the way of the Sufi. AN INTERVIEW Q. What do you mean when you say "we really choose our own time to emerge"? A. Even though all souls are manifest on this plane right now, each will carefully pick its own path through the maze of the life it was born into, and will emerge only when it is ready and has determined that it is both safe and correct to do so. That is one reason why we have so few emerged souls on the planet at the time. It's been tested and determined to be, by and large, an unsafe place for truth and soul quality. One of the purposes of the Sufi way, similar to the hearts of all emerged souls, is to create an environment in which such emergence is expected. The perceived need for such an environment is also the root 'spiritual' motivation in the drive for material security and stability, without which it is doubly difficult for the true human or "soul" qualities to emerge. The birth of children more or less 'forces' the qualities of compassion and love to come out of us, and that is why we love them so much. They are a chance for us to re-experience the love of ourselves as little children. But the contemporary battle is now between time for love, and the struggle for financial 'survival'. So the children suffer and deem the world an unsafe place for their soulful emergence, and now in anger seek to destroy that which they recognize as a prison, maybe even as the prison of their parents. But this was not always the case and need not be even now. In the West, as a more correct belief system is discovered through trial and error (the "scientific" approach of exploration and Ali Ansari 6/76 Surrenderworks.com

10 experimentation), more and more souls will be "coming out" of hiding and taking their rightful places in the legions of right, religious and spiritual-minded people, past and present. This is my definition of religion, the "re-legioning", or re-aligning of popular focus - pointing in the right direction - telling it like it is. A good religion will have all of the requisite qualities to provide for the safety, reform and 'realignment' of human energy that is necessary to contribute to a proper environment for the emergence of the true human, or "soul" qualities of peace, mercy, wisdom and justice for all. This emergence, in some cultures, is considered simply "maturation", and in others, assumed at birth. Take a look into world history and at the incredible civilizations built upon the peace established by the religion of Islam. You will see world environments in which the magnificent qualities of peace and soulful patience emerged in the form of unsurpassed achievement in the fields of architecture, agriculture, hygiene, etiquette, medicine, philosophy, psychology, literature, poetry, art and calligraphy, to mention only a few. And all of this without the oil cartels and the frenetic waste of human energy and resources. Where are the socially accessible benefits of these qualities being manifested now? Only within small, well defined, "experimental" spiritual communities. But creating a world-wide arena for the manifestation of these qualities is exactly the purpose of the Islamic revelation. Q. How is it that the "Islamic revelation", as you call it, creates the environment for the manifestation of these deeply human "soul" qualities? A. Islam brings to us, humanity, a certain knowledge of the true qualities of God, a sense of divine certainty that answers all questions, and upon which personal lives and civilizations can be built. For example, the concept of eternity breeds patience, with oneself and with others. The concepts of Grace, Mercy and Forgiveness breed lack of fear and anxiety, the concept of Unity breeds co-operation, the concept of personal responsibility for the soul allows for freedom from the need for less benevolently inclined spiritual, religious or even secular controls, basically from unwitting manipulation by others. The concept of salvation, that God did not create to punish, offers peace of mind. This knowledge is that "salvation" and eternity are gifts, and cannot be earned, to be appreciated and maintained through gratitude and remembrance. Q. What is the "key to salvation" in Islam? A. Salvation and spiritual liberation are the same thing, the saving of the soul. The only difference is that Salvation is considered to be in the "afterlife" or Hereafter, and spiritual liberation, or the "realization" of salvation, is considered to be attainable while still in this world. In Sufism, which is the study of this reality and the essence of Islam, spiritual liberation and salvation may be attained by recognizing our identity with True Love. I hasten to add that this is not easy, because it implies recognizing and transcending all loves that are false - not the true, ultimate love. This recognition and identification with the True Love is one of the essential "personalized" meanings, well documented in Islamic psychology, to be gained from the phrase "la ilaha illa 'llah" (no god but The One), and the discipline of coming to truly understand its meaning. There is no love but True Love - the True Love, in this case, being the love of Al-llah!, the Compassionate, the Merciful, the very Source and Author of all true love. Ali Ansari 7/76 Surrenderworks.com

11 In Islam and Sufism, this recognition is aided by the teachings of true love for the Prophet and his family. He himself is reported to have said, "I ask nothing from you except that you love my family". It doesn't take long for a student of Islam, under Sufi tutelage, to realize why true love for the Prophet and his family is due, and the reflection and self-affirmation that one receives from this endeavor is more than satisfying. Islam categorically states that Muhammad was the last and final prophet. Sufis derive from their investigation of the revealed facts that he (Muhammad) is the "Qutub of the Universe" or, the central soul, the very reason why Al-llah! created, sustains and will bring to a close, this Universe as a whole. There have been volumes and eulogies written in praise of Muhammad, whose name in fact means the Most Praiseworthy. As stated in Qur`an, Al-llah! Himself as well as His angels, sends His blessings upon the Prophet, and the believers are encouraged to do the same. It is stated that when a believer asks for Al-llah!'s blessings upon the Prophet and his family, that the Prophet and his family, from their places in the unseen, return the request by asking for Al-llah!'s blessings upon the believer. There s genuine empathy, and communion. Muhammad asked of us nothing but to love him and his family. How do we go about loving him and his family? Simply by bearing witness to the truth of the message of the Existence and Unity (one-ness) of God (Al-llah!) and the prophethood of Muhammad. In Islam, recognition of and honoring the truth of this message is the key to "salvation", or the liberation of true "Soul" qualities. So love for Muhammad and his family is the key to the liberation of all the unseen virtues of the human soul. This is the reason why the Sufis are so unrivaled in their exuberant praises of God, and why their writings and poetry are so exhilarating, because they represent the heights of liberation attainable by the human soul, and resonate with that potential within our selves. Q. What does it mean when you say (in other writings) "The Death in Al-llah! is the Life in Him", or "Die before you die"? A. "Die before you die" is a statement attributed to the prophet himself. It is the quintessential statement of the 'method' for knowing God and has been used in Sufi practices for ages. Being a "child of the bomb", meaning being born in an atomic age where a very real and total annihilation, to the point of the complete evaporation of all the physical qualities which give me form and life and make me human and present, is possible, has afforded me a dramatic and "firsthand" opportunity to imagine such annihilation. And then to imagine what would be left. And there is a subtle sense of immortality that with a little patience and training can be picked up on. According to the masters, this is the only thing that is really "real" about us, and we can really only barely perceive it, although it is rich, strong and powerful. It is spoken of much in Sufism and referred to as the "true" self, or soul. And that's only from the physiological standpoint. Also, from the psychological standpoint of the ego, all must perish, except that which will not. This is stated in other ways in other traditions. The Buddhists see it and say it, as do the Taoists and Vedantists, the "Gnostics" (in the revealed religions of Christianity, Judaism and Islam) and modern "soul" psychologists focusing on the emergence of the "Authentic Self" as the point of life. This is a major movement in personal and social life, as well as in healing, and all resistances to it are futile and seem to end in tragedy. Ali Ansari 8/76 Surrenderworks.com

12 However, from the standpoint of the emerged self, as also stated in religions and spiritual paths, nothing perishes, for the soul, manifesting as true Self by the will of its Source, is immortal, by the very nature of its Divine createdness and its sustenance in and by Divine Will. When we surrender to THAT, we automatically release hold of our "mortal" concerns, and trust, and the heart is immediately enlivened and the body leaps for joy. We are in actuality letting go of our "mortality", and surrendering to our "immortality", as it were. It is much the same as when we sleep. There are traditions within some Buddhist teachings that compare the "awakened" being to being as "asleep" to the world of illusion. The tarot shows him in the referred form, i.e. as he is seen by "normal" people, as the "fool on the hill", impractical, a mere dreamer. But modern research is proving it to be quite another case indeed. A wonderful book has been written on this subject by Robert Rabbin called "Invisible Leadership". (robrabbin.com) A willingness to "let go" of your "mortality", your "mortal" concerns, and surrender to life itself, will show you that life is not at all dependent upon you and your efforts to ward off your fears. Life has a benevolence all its own that can only be experienced by letting it. Continued practice coupled with a spiritual discipline can lead to one s complete liberation. Q. What, to your thinking, is the significance of these "troubled times"? A. Soul is very persistent. It is truly our benefactor and will only allow us so much foolhardiness before it starts to manifest in seriously "troubling" ways. Kids think of themselves "in trouble" when parents intervene. This is the theme of my own breakthrough discoveries in "soul psychology", and the key to my personal liberation. (Journey to the Soul of Truth The Original Essays) It's only when we are able to accept and investigate the motivations behind the parts of ourselves that we have learned to think of as "negative", and investigate the causes of such thinking, that we come to realize the nature of our true self, or soul, and its qualities, its own motivation and its means of expression. It's important to listen to and understand the roots of our "No!" as well as our "Yes!", and to understand what it is exactly that we are saying "Yes!" and "No!" to. This is a form of healing that comes from and leads to spiritual liberation. It is currently on the vanguard of the movements in health and medicine, from commercially viable treatments of lesser quality to the absolutely non-profitable methods of self-responsibility and self-education led by the spiritual and energy healers, as well as at the leading edge of truly investigative psychologists and psychiatrists. Spiritual liberation has proven to be the root guidance and motivation of all the healing arts, for when the mind and body/heart are truly synchronous and free of the enslaving ideologies and incorrect belief systems, all choices become available and true health has a chance to dominate. There is no doubt that spiritual liberation and education is not just desirable, but altogether necessary. But liberation is from what? Only our fears! And the Sufis maintain that a true knowledge of Islam would go a long way toward ameliorating our fears and dispelling our doubts. It might be that our greatest collective fear at the moment is Islam. Of everything that we are getting from and seeing in the media there is only one true statement: "That is not the real Islam". Q. So what is Islam, and what are we afraid of? Ali Ansari 9/76 Surrenderworks.com

13 A. My point exactly. I might answer that by saying that we are afraid of our fears, and that Islam (true Surrender) is a means of facing them. Knowledge is always a liberation ("the Truth shall set you free"), and the purpose of knowledge is to liberate us from ignorance. And what true knowledge of Islam do we have in the West? As long as we are ignorant, we can be manipulated by fear. But what if we had nothing to be afraid of? What then? Can anybody in the West explain why Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world? I can. It's simply because it is supposed to be. It was created to capture and hold our interest, and it has done a very good job. So what is the truth of Islam? As an accepted religion, it is the most recent and final manifestation of Divine will and knowledge to come to us through a long line of accepted prophets. It is becoming increasingly obvious what certain Islamic Scholars have been saying all along - "Islam IS the Issue". We are more motivated and governed by our ignorance and fear of Islam than we would like to think, but what IS Islam? It's nothing, really. By that I mean that it can be for most of us nothing greater than a simple shift in understanding. For example, accepting the word "Al-llah!" as the Arabic name for God is one increasingly popular thing we can do. Just say it and you will see that it immediately shifts the energy and releases the tensions of a perceived incompatibility. The word "Islam" means "Surrender!" It is the command form of the root Arabic word for "Peace". It means, in a commanding way, to "Be peaceful!" It is a direct and clearly stated message of our truth and reality from God, and has been accepted as such by fourteen hundred years of human society and approximately a fifth of today's world population. Understanding Islam to mean the simple Surrender that most of us do or attempt to do even in the bustle of our daily lives is another of the simple shifts in understanding. Everyone practices Islam in one form or another, and all religions teach it as Surrender to Divine will, or giving up the fight within ourselves. We practice it in our daily lives so much that we don't even notice it any more. Each of us has a part of us that is Muslim. Another part of the shift is understanding the word "Muslim" to mean simply "Surrendered", "Surrendering" or just "giving it up" to Divine Will. Often referred to in western Spirituality as "Letting God do it", or just "letting go". That is Surrender, and that's the meaning of "Islam", to surrender it to God. This is the very Surrender that is the root and beginning of all successful healing. It is the release of duality and the acceptance of Unity. Islam has nothing to do with surrendering to the will of "another". Al-llah! honors and respects the soul's rebellion against oppression, knowing it to be a necessary part of its innate quest for the freedom to learn to express itself clearly. Surrendering our souls to the will of "another" is a way based upon fear, submission and obedience instilled in us by some form of dominating father figures. But that is not from the Love, Gratitude and Freewill Service offered by a truly liberated and self-responsible soul. For each individual, in the personal life of each soul, there is no possibility of some "other", there IS only the One true God (called "Al-llah!" in Arabic), and it is to this LOVE that we are responsible, and to no other authority. Free will is not negotiable. And it's everything. Asking "What is Islam, is like asking, "What is God?" Islam is also a way of life for people who are surrendered to their existence in God, who wish to take responsibility for their lives and are concerned about the safety of their souls. It is becoming increasingly necessary that the public be offered authentic information concerning the practicalities of Islam, and its goals, means and purposes. So I am offering a book, a website and a series of articles, and inviting questions from the readership as fuel for more dissertations on the true meanings of Ali Ansari 10/76 Surrenderworks.com

14 Islam, the reasons for its historical and contemporary benefit to human society, and the personal application of its tenets in the pathway of spiritual liberation, know as Sufism. Q. Why do we in the West, not choose Islam? A. Common sense. Not only are people drawn to the familiar, they are also averse to the strange. And if we do not know about something, only a few of us will find the time, the interest, or the urgency, to go exploring. The rest of us will stay at home and wait for it to be delivered in the evening news. But Islam is now in the evening news, and every evening, also. So people want to know what it is. And in the Sufi view, it is inevitable that the future, if there is one, will be in Islam in its most liberal and all inclusive sense, i.e. Surrender to Peace and the way of Peace. So if that's the future, why not practice it now? Q. What do you mean, "in its most liberal and all-inclusive sense". A. Well it's a cinch that if totalitarianism is to exist as the dominant form of society on the planet, it will certainly not be "Islamic" totalitarianism, for there is in fact no such thing and the very concept is objectionable to Al-llah! Himself. Al-llah! is the liberator, not the enslaver. And totalitarianism in any form is objectionable to the human spirit and eventually will be eradicated, but religions and unity will endure forever for they are endearing to the human heart, and from and about Al-llah!, the Divine, and Peace, Love, Mercy and Justice for all. This is true in all religions and Oriental philosophies. So they are concepts and movements that will endure, and totalitarianism, and especially Islamic totalitarianism, is not. But there are today many terrified people who believe themselves free and liberated by their religion, but who also believe that it is their religious duty to inflict their religion upon others with punishment as a consequence. This is true of fundamentalism in all beliefs. It is a result of having their religion and their salvation inflicted upon them, and believing it to be in their own best interests. In other words, they were never free or liberated spiritually to make their own choices and believe that what happened to them is "for their own good" and from the benevolent will of God. They are therefore willing, even eager, to pass it on to others in like manner. It becomes the duty and privilege of enlightened people the world over to learn the true principles of Islamic Social Liberation and point out the salient and forgotten points of this religion to the world, Muslims included. This effort toward world peace will satisfy all involved. It will illumine the truths of the faith to the world at large, and correct the errors of reasoning and education to the frustrated Muslims who feel that war is the only way to get their point across. Everyone is thinking of war as the means to peace. "Win first. Then we can be at peace." Defeat the enemy is a valid strategy, but the enemy is raging within us and unless the effort is expended to discover the peace and truth within us, it will never reign in the world. For the world is an exact reflection of how we see ourselves in it. Q. What would you consider to be, in a word, a major identifiable problem in western thinking. A. Competitiveness. And Impatience. Not competition, for there are competitions that are healthy and stimulating, but competitiveness is a pervasive, yet easily identifiable manifestation of deep chronic concern. Competitiveness keeps people from making and taking their own time. Ali Ansari 11/76 Surrenderworks.com

15 It keeps them always making comparison to see if their outward lives are keeping up with someone else's. And the major 'sub'-conscious cause of this is what I call "fighting with ghosts", or setting ourselves up to be just like or better than, or not at all like, someone who is not there, and mainly, but not always, one or another of our parents. It is considered to be a manifestation of unhealthy self-concern and the antithesis of Surrender. And Surrender is now known to be the key to personal prosperity and social success. Undoing the residual effects of competitiveness is the healing work of the Sufis in Islam. Soothing the frightened nerves and welcoming the newcomers into the gardens of peace and prosperity is the manifestation of world-famous Islamic hospitality. It is the work of liberating the soul from the shackles of its acquired fears. Self-realization is the process of totally finishing individuation, or the realization and manifestation of your own divine entity-ship. It is a complete separation from all sub-conscious attachments, thereby ending the powers they have over you and freeing your true reality and personal resources to accomplish your true mission on earth, whatever that may be. In other words, it is the annihilation of the ego. Q. What do you mean by "Real Islam Exists only in the hearts of Sufi Masters"? A. If people only knew that there is nothing to fear, there would be no fear and there would be no people to be manipulated by fear, nor would there be any fearful people to be doing the manipulation. Now wouldn't that be "Heaven on Earth"? The thing about Sufi masters is that they know this. And how do they know this? Through study and practice of the Sufi way - understanding Islam (Surrender) in the light of Reality, rather than in the light of personality. Identifying and transcending personality for the very purpose of understanding Reality. And this Reality is mentioned over and over again in Qur`an, but always in terms of "Would that you knew it". "Al Haaqah! Wa maa al Haaqah." "Wa maa adraka maa al Haaqah." "The Reality! And what is the Reality?" "And what will convey to you what this Reality is?" So even though it may not be immediately obvious, it is knowable, and the way to knowing is the purpose and the goal of the guided practice of the religion of Islam. But I say guided, because if the intention is lost, or deferred to the afterlife, then the practices become only exercises in belief. But the people of fear, both the manipulators and the manipulated, are very attached to their fears and object strenuously to any teaching that their fears do not, in reality, exist. But the truth is, in Reality, they do not exist. And should the people of truth simply lie down and surrender to the fears of the fearful? Of course not. So the struggle for knowledge of truth continues. The struggle against our fears, which is the struggle to overcome them and know the Reality and the Truth of Al-llah!, is the Greatest Jihad. It is incumbent upon us all from the cradle to the grave. All struggles, greater and lesser, are struggles against oppression, and the greatest and most important of these is the struggle against self-oppression, or the struggle for self- or spiritual liberation. It is attainable. Al-llah! would not give us an impossible obligation. And it is the people who are doing the work of liberation who are the real Sufis. And whoever is practicing Surrender to the Real is a Muslim. It matters not where they live or what language they speak. Q. Why do you consider Self-liberation to be the primary obligation? Ali Ansari 12/76 Surrenderworks.com

16 A. It's the only true way to know God, and that's what He created us for - to know Him. To know first hand His love, peace, mercy and forgiveness. It's in the Hadith Qudsi 1 where Al-llah! said "I was alone and I wanted to be known, so I created." It's also in the Hadith of the Prophet where he said after returning from a successful defensive battle, "We have left the lesser struggle to resume the greater struggle". Liberation from the limiting confines of ourselves is clearly stated to be the Jihad Al-Akbar, or Greater Jihad, and is of equal or greater importance to us than the lesser one of staving off enemies. But they are related, for they both relate to the subduing of enemies, outer and inner. The difference with the inner work, and the quality that makes it the "Greater" Jihad, is that it is with us all the time while the struggle in self-defense will come and go. Another quality that makes it the "Greater" Jihad is that the fears that we carry within our selves are much harder to identify, much more hidden, and to each person much scarier. They are also sociologically more dangerous, since they have a tendency to express themselves and erupt pathologically, which is what we are witnessing all over the world in various manifestations. People actually grow very attached to their fears and will reject vehemently any idea of the possibility or desirability of letting them go. This is the very reason for the fundamentalist reaction, common from a large segment of Muslims, to the concept of Sufism and Spiritual Healing. They will use elemental denial, claiming that it does not exist, or is not a part of the Islam that they were taught and adhere to, to dismiss and reject it. The Spiritual Roots of Hidden Hypocrisy For all the beliefs and opinions, incorrect or otherwise, that they may have about spiritual healing, the most significant and over-riding effect of the fundamentalist belief and education is that the Work' will not be done. They will claim happiness and contentment with Al-llah!, while in fact they are still living in fear of the real self-love that they are receiving from their souls in spite of themselves, and are quite dedicated to repressing it. It is a form of self-repression in the name of self-control and discipline. And they will call this discipline the Jihad al-akbar. So what can we do? Qur`an, even though pointing out and confirming the distinction, does not argue with these people. Al-llah! calls them the "people of the right hand" and wishes them peace. And with that they are happy. They are content with themselves while abiding in the "Unique Mistake" of believing the Veil to be the Reality. Such is the attitude of the majority of the Muslims today toward Sufism and the work of Spiritual Healing and Purification, which is the meaning of the word "Tasawwuf" from which the word Sufism derives. But still, in not doing the work and in not completing their education in Islam at the hands of the true Sufi masters who represent the inward realities of Islam from the Prophet and his spiritual descendants, they do not only a disservice to themselves but to the actual face of Islam itself. For each person will represent Islam to the degree of his knowledge. And since the outward practices of Islam are so simple to learn and can go to some pretty deep levels, each of the Muslims is more than pleased with himself and very ready to step into the role of teacher. This gives, for the most part, a very dogmatic, fundamentalist and doctrinarian view of Islam which is palatable to only the few westerners looking for a religious escape that says all they have to do is this now, and they will attain heaven later. But even a cursory glance at the psychology of this situation 1 First person speech of God transmitted by the prophet. Similar to Qur`an but not included it it. Ali Ansari 13/76 Surrenderworks.com

17 will show that the "Heaven" that this seeker seeks is simply the freedom to be, an escape from some perceived form of persecution, most always, by now, self-imposed. Herein lies the secret of the hidden polytheism and hypocrisy that is mentioned so often in Qur`an and Sufi texts. If you started by running from your father, and are now running from yourself, and you are telling yourself, convinced in your mind and words, that you are running to Al-llah!, is it not obvious that you are still harboring a hidden form of self within your heart that is still exercising a great deal of control? So is this not an idol in the Ka`aba (the Holy Temple) of your heart? And if that is so, then the work of purifying the heart from all loves but the Love of Al-llah!, is the meaning of "La ilaha illa 'llah", and is indeed our primary obligation. And this is exactly the "Islamic" definition of the work of western spiritual psychology. It is purifying the heart from delusion and compulsion to dis-cover the Soul, or True and Authentic Self. And it is the key to all success (falah). Q. What do you mean when you say that we are only running from Self, Love and God. A. Well, is it not, in the end, only love that we are fighting against? So is it not, in the final analysis, only ourselves, God, and the Immediate Love that we are running from? The end result is that we are not receiving it. So something we are doing is preventing that. If we are indeed responsible for our lives, and I believe everyone will agree with that, then the effects we create are the result of deliberate actions. And if we investigate, we will agree that we have created a very elaborate illusion for the specific purpose of keeping us away from that which we really love. An example of this is easily found by investigating the compensatory rewards of our "selfsacrifice" in enthusiastically accepting false responsibility. We are constantly distracting ourselves from our Self, Love and God by seeking conformity and commonality, and by persisting in the commonly accepted social obsession of materialist objectivity. Even spouses and children are perceived and spoken of as objects. But to get to the point here is simple. Ignoring the distractions and the idea of projecting blame onto material creations, simply take a look at what's being (deliberately) overlooked. Why, Lo and behold, it's what everyone is claiming to be looking for - Self, Love and God. From a Muslim (and human) standpoint, it is only by means of love that we can truly know the Reality of God and fulfill our obligation to be with God and only God at all times. We are attracted to love and repelled by other than love. If we cannot find or live in love, life becomes unbearable and no creativity or artistic expression will arise, as it did in early Islamic civilizations. The result is a barren civilization, into which children are born, bound to seek the love they have come to find, or die. Q. And again, what is the significance of Islam in this scenario? A. "Islam", in the Sufi view means "Surrender to God", but to what end? How can we really know our surrender except by means of feeling, and feeling what if not the truth and reality of love? It is held that the true love is identified by keeping company with it, and by shunning the company of any lesser love. This is the primary tenet of Islam and is expressed on the tongue by repeatedly saying, "la ilaha illa 'llah" "There is Only One God", or "No love but True Love is real". Ali Ansari 14/76 Surrenderworks.com