Religion, in fact, is an order providing social security; it regulates operation of human-life on the track destined for salvation. Unity generates strength. The slogans for integration seem, although, quite attractive but at the same time, due to creation of boundaries in to the religious resorts, it becomes dangerous when they come in to the state of bloodsuckers of each other on the same basis. It is a matter of great misfortune that the esoteric side of ‘religion’ shrinked in to a brink and finally it went off from the common man’s vision.
But the clean men, seekers after truth that could shatter these boundaries, have always been classy and are known as ‘SUFIS’. The word ‘TASAWWUF’ is synonym of "Theosophy’, but to the common people, it confuses to be Islamic.
The people of modern society, who do not like the religious bondage and are still interested in esoteric practices, will therefore, be grateful to a competent scholar like Shri R. K. Gupta, who has in these pages thrown a great deal of illuminating light on various points on the mysticism free from religious limitations, with special reference to certain such saints, who meditated for human integration and opposed every division of humanity in the name of God.
I hope, Shri R. K. Gupta will continue to dig in the fertile and consecrated field, he has chosen for his work and make available from time to time the Gems he gets in his hands.
Spirituality in simple words means emptying out oneself completely of the ego. The all Pervading Consciousness then fills the vacuum immediately and one becomes a part of it. It is only one’s ego that obstructs the Universal Consciousness to fill one’s heart with divinity. If there were no ego in the human beings, there would not have been wars and destruction caused by the man. As the seventeenth century European poet Angelus Silesius has said:
All evils, Murder, war and cruel oppressions, From what else do they spring, Than from the Me’s obsession? (Translated by Frederick Franck) Higher the status of the person concerned more the damage he can inflict on to the society. It is, therefore, said that the King should be saintly i.e. if he has overcome his ego, he would rule the people with compassion and would help in the well being of not only his own populace but also of others. Often, however, we come across examples of rulers, who because they are not at peace in their mind, cause wars and destruction all around.
Similar is the case with the religious leaders. The fanatic followers of religion have perhaps taken away more lives than those lost in wars. The biggest problem with any religion is that those who are associated with the religion consider the religion to be their personal property. They associate their ego with the religion; it is my religion; my religion is the superior most or it is the only way to reach the God and so on. Spirituality on the other hand is sacrificing this ego, to become nothing. Spirituality is the essence of all religions and.
is a matter related to one’s soul, which is same in all human beings irrespective of their colour, caste or creed. Spirituality teaches large heartedness and not the narrow mindedness. It is the way to reach the Truth. The Truth is one, although one may realize it in different ways. It is said that there are as many ways to reach the God, as. are there the number of atoms in the Universe.
The present book ‘Sufism Beyond Religion’ is an attempt to distinguish between spirituality and religion, not by comparing the two, but by describing how one could acquire spirituality, no matter what religion one follows. Sufism is the ancient wisdom, which is not confined to any particular religion and, therefore, Sufism cuts across the barriers of religions. Sufism is embedded in mysticism. There are two aspects of Sufism; one that could be understood using the intellect and the other that could only be realized. What could only be realized cannot be expressed in words. My effort, therefore, is to put the knowledge that could be understood in a manner, which could easily be grasped by all.
I must admit candidly that there is nothing much original in this book. The original thoughts occur, one in a million and that too only to great persons as a divine gift. My effort has been to collect, translate and assimilate the material already available. The present book substantially is the translation of the extracts from the work of the great saint Mahatma Ram Chandraji Maharaj of Fatehgarh, UP, the first giaour Sufi Master of the Naqshbandi Order.
-Translation, however, is always a difficult job especially when one has to find English equivalent of Persian and Arabic words used in the original text, that could convey, if not exactly, at least the approximate meaning, and yet not lose the sense of the original text. Besides. the true meaning of anything written by a great Master cannot easily be understood by anyone not equally accomplished. I am, therefore, afraid that I may not have been able to capture the same. I beg for the forgiveness for the same.
The book comprises of eight Chapters. The main focus of the first two Chapters i.e. ‘The Sufis’ and ‘Ancient Wisdom’ is to highlight the secular characteristics of Sufism. The third Chapter i.e. ‘Sufi Principles and Practices’ has been written from a practical point of view i.e. from the point of view of a spiritual seeker. The essence of Sufism is to become nothing i.e. no existence of one’s own besides the existence of the God. It could be termed anything; sacrifice of ego; love; faith; enlightenment or by any other name. When one has realized no difference exists in them, it is the same, although one may call it by any name according to one’s own understanding or inclination. The fourth and the fifth Chapters are titled ‘Prayer’ and ‘Love’ respectively and are focussed on their importance in the Sufi way. However, the most important aspect of Sufism is the Master Disciple relationship, which is the focus of the sixth Chapter.
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