official

Sheikh Nazim

THE TRUE SPIRITUAL SEEKER IS NOT SATISFIED WITH SUCH GROUPS

Among the signs that a branch of a Sufi Tariqah has lost its connections to the roots, that it has
been severed from the Source of Divine Wisdom is that the Tariqah begins to occupy its
followers in various outward activities. These generally serve to distract from the realization that
no one is receiving any real spiritual guidance; no one is progressing towards his destination of
inner peace and spiritual stations.

People who are seeking to fulfill some social, psychological or economic need may feel satisfied
with membership in such organizations, as they are often highly coordinated and provide the
appearance of material and emotional stability and security. But the true spiritual seeker will
never feel satisfied with membership in such a group, as all Tariqahs that become official and
formalized are no longer real Sufi Paths: the spiritual has been sacrificed for the temporal.

Sometimes the followers of our Way express the wish that things should be more organized; but
our organization is a higher organization, not like man-made ways. The difference is like that of
a forest existing naturally on the mountainside with its trees growing at irregular intervals, and of
a forest planted by men, with all the trees standing uniformly spaced in neat and straight rows.
Although to man’s eye the natural forest may seem chaotic, the ecological balance and subtle
organization is real-perhaps much more so than in the planted forest. Which forest is lovelier and
has a more calming effect on the soul? I think most people would find the natural one more
pleasing.

One will always find such “Sufi Organizations” engaged in organizing and trying to draw people
into their circles so as to strengthen their communities by expanding their ranks. They usually
manifest this tendency by establishing communities in one place and drawing people into it;
again, often through the attractiveness of social, economic and psychological advantages
provided by such a community. Our followers, particularly the American followers, have often
asked me whether they too should not all gather in one place in the United States to live as a
community. Whenever they proposed such ideas my heart was never in accord. I told them
they should stay in their communities and serve there as lights and guides for others, that they
should be examples for all receptive people. In physics this is called the principle of diffusion, a
force in the center sending out energy which it projects over far distances. This contrasts to the
opposite principle of infusion whereby energy is drawn to the center. Now, which principle did
our Holy Prophet Muhammed (sal) act upon? When some of his companions asked him where
they should settle and make their lives once the Prophet’s time had passed, he told them: “You
must look to settle in Damascus.” He did not tell them to huddle together in Medina, but to go
and live in Damascus among that non-Muslim community if it was possible to do so peacefully.”

Look, scientists are now saying that the planets were part of the sun and were thrown into space
where they are kept in orbit of the sun by a fine balance. They also say that the Moon originated
from the Earth and orbit it according to a similar principle. Even if each of you, in your own
communities, cannot be a resplendent sun whose own light shines forth and whose gravitational
influence keeps many planets in orbit, at least you can be like the Earth that holds one moon in
orbit. The Earth has no light of its own, but by its reflection of the sun’s rays it gives light to the
Moon, and though it cannot hold huge planets in orbit, it can hold a moon. Jupiter, even though
it is also cracked off from the Sun, orbits it and doesn’t have its own light, holds so many
moons in its orbit. You must take wisdom from this example.

Even if you haven’t been invested with the power to shine, try to be a mirror to reflect those
rays. Just because you cannot yet be a means by which many people may be guided (because
you yourself are still impure) that doesn’t mean you can’t affect some people and help to bring
them to the Way. Just be as sincere with people as you can, then the Sheikh’s light may come
to you and through you. And don’t despair if only a few interested people or even only a single
person come to be affected by your presence in your community, for the Holy Prophet
Muhammed, (sal) said: “Whoever guides one man to the truth has earned what is worth more
than this world and all it contains – he has earned his Lord’s pleasure.”

The End

                                                    Sheikh Nazim

OFFICIAL AND FORMAL ORGANIZATIONS

                                    are

                 NOT REAL SUFI PATHS

    THE TRUE SPIRITUAL SEEKER IS NOT SATISFIED WITH SUCH GROUPS

Among the signs that a branch of a Sufi Tariqah has lost its connections to the roots, that it has
been severed from the Source of Divine Wisdom is that the Tariqah begins to occupy its
followers in various outward activities. These generally serve to distract from the realization that
no one is receiving any real spiritual guidance; no one is progressing towards his destination of
inner peace and spiritual stations.

People who are seeking to fulfill some social, psychological or economic need may feel satisfied
with membership in such organizations, as they are often highly coordinated and provide the
appearance of material and emotional stability and security. But the true spiritual seeker will
never feel satisfied with membership in such a group, as all Tariqahs that become official and
formalized are no longer real Sufi Paths: the spiritual has been sacrificed for the temporal.

Sometimes the followers of our Way express the wish that things should be more organized; but
our organization is a higher organization, not like man-made ways. The difference is like that of
a forest existing naturally on the mountainside with its trees growing at irregular intervals, and of
a forest planted by men, with all the trees standing uniformly spaced in neat and straight rows.
Although to man’s eye the natural forest may seem chaotic, the ecological balance and subtle
organization is real-perhaps much more so than in the planted forest. Which forest is lovelier and
has a more calming effect on the soul? I think most people would find the natural one more
pleasing.

One will always find such “Sufi Organizations” engaged in organizing and trying to draw people
into their circles so as to strengthen their communities by expanding their ranks. They usually
manifest this tendency by establishing communities in one place and drawing people into it;
again, often through the attractiveness of social, economic and psychological advantages
provided by such a community. Our followers, particularly the American followers, have often
asked me whether they too should not all gather in one place in the United States to live as a
community. Whenever they proposed such ideas my heart was never in accord. I told them
they should stay in their communities and serve there as lights and guides for others, that they
should be examples for all receptive people. In physics this is called the principle of diffusion, a
force in the center sending out energy which it projects over far distances. This contrasts to the
opposite principle of infusion whereby energy is drawn to the center. Now, which principle did
our Holy Prophet Muhammed (sal) act upon? When some of his companions asked him where
they should settle and make their lives once the Prophet’s time had passed, he told them: “You
must look to settle in Damascus.” He did not tell them to huddle together in Medina, but to go
and live in Damascus among that non-Muslim community if it was possible to do so peacefully.”

Look, scientists are now saying that the planets were part of the sun and were thrown into space
where they are kept in orbit of the sun by a fine balance. They also say that the Moon originated
from the Earth and orbit it according to a similar principle. Even if each of you, in your own
communities, cannot be a resplendent sun whose own light shines forth and whose gravitational
influence keeps many planets in orbit, at least you can be like the Earth that holds one moon in
orbit. The Earth has no light of its own, but by its reflection of the sun’s rays it gives light to the
Moon, and though it cannot hold huge planets in orbit, it can hold a moon. Jupiter, even though
it is also cracked off from the Sun, orbits it and doesn’t have its own light, holds so many
moons in its orbit. You must take wisdom from this example.

Even if you haven’t been invested with the power to shine, try to be a mirror to reflect those
rays. Just because you cannot yet be a means by which many people may be guided (because
you yourself are still impure) that doesn’t mean you can’t affect some people and help to bring
them to the Way. Just be as sincere with people as you can, then the Sheikh’s light may come
to you and through you. And don’t despair if only a few interested people or even only a single
person come to be affected by your presence in your community, for the Holy Prophet
Muhammed, (sal) said: “Whoever guides one man to the truth has earned what is worth more
than this world and all it contains – he has earned his Lord’s pleasure.”

               The End