The following is an interview conducted by Arthur Scott, a professor at Dominican College, Stanford, and the University of California at San Francisco, with Sufi master Shah Nazar Seyed Ali Kianfar, Ph.D. Dr. Kianfar is co-director and cofounder of the International Association of Sufism and an internationally published author who has been teaching Sufism for over thirty years. Professor Scott: What is Sufism?
Dr. Kianfar: "Sufism" is the translation of the Arabic word "tasawwuf," which is a combination of purification and awareness, remembrance, and, ultimately, understanding the self.
Professor Scott: Could you please comment on the history and origins of Sufism?
Dr. Kianfar: The origin of Sufism is grounded in Islam, in submitting to the will of the Divine. A Sufi understands the importance of self-awareness. In Islam, religion becomes complete in submission, and with it comes Sufism, "the inner way" of Islam. When Sufis say the "inner way," they mean "understanding the meaning," and not simply just practicing and repeating rituals and words. To understand the meaning of submission involves practicing the principles of Sufism.
Professor Scott: What are the goals of Sufism?
Dr. Kianfar: The goal of the Sufi is the understanding of the self, based on the rule of monotheistic religion, which is "whosoever knows oneself will know The One Who Knows." Knowing is different from reading a book or listening to a lecture. Knowing is an abstract understanding. This abstract understanding goes beyond the power of the mind; it arises in the heart, the real you. At this juncture, the seeker wants to know what to do, and this is where the practices of Sufism can lead one to the still point of existence.
Professor Scott: Could you clarify the relationship between Sufism and other religions?
Dr. Kianfar: Sufism addresses the understanding of the self, and its doors are open to every human being who wants to understand. Understanding the self is the real meaning of religion. When we talk about religion, we are talking about the connection between man and the unseen God. Sufism can provide a service to the person who seeks understanding through its practices.
When people plunge into their religious depths, they enter into a Sufi state or condition. Sufism can be described as the heart of all religions. The quest, for a Sufi, is a divine quest and all Sufis are followers of the Divine. Sufism isn't a human invention, but a divine rule, which is why we can trust its practice.
Sufism transcends race, gender, and creed, as it's based on the fundamental principle of knowing who and what you are. All are welcome to embrace its truths. That is why a Christian can be a practicing Sufi. When Christians practice Sufism, it doesn't mean that they reject the Gospels and the Bible. Rather, they have come to a deeper understanding of the message of Jesus Christ.
The same is true of Jew and Muslim: each comes to a more profound realization of the teachings of Moses and Muhammad. As can be seen, Sufism isn't a name or label, but a practice of 12 principles. When one says that he or she is a Sufi, it doesn't mean that one has a label but inshallah, "I am practicing to understand the Reality." By practicing Sufism, one realizes that there is no past or present, but only the Divine Present, as we are all travelers from eternity to eternity. To reiterate, Sufism is the door to divine wisdom, and its door is open to peoples of all faiths without asking who you are, what you do, and where you're going.
Dr. Kianfar will be one of the speakers from around the world speaking at the Sufism Symposium that will be held in Bellevue over Memorial Day weekend. The symposium is open to all who are interested, and will include Sufi poetry, music, whirling dervishes, meditation, zikr (invocation), and panel discussions. For more information, please call (206) 835-5588 or visit http://www.ias.org/index.html.
