| "Tassawuri is an advanced practice and requires a teacher, usually a living teacher. One does best by performing Tassawuri either in the presence of a living teacher, or when one has a firm impression of the teacher in mind it can be done in his absence; or when the teacher manifests and brings about a great blessing, Tassawuri can be performed easily.
There are several ways of acquiring Tassawuri. One is to see the teacher and even follow the teacher while he walks. Another is to be deeply impressed so that one is aware of the teacher's rhythm. There are practices in concentration called Murakkaba which enable the devotee to advance along this line. Practices mean practices and not thoughts about such subjects. These thoughts are often the gates to the worst kind of delusions and self-centeredness. People have the philosophies and neither knowledge nor wisdom. They do not know if they really can get into the rhythm of the teacher. Sufic concentration (Murakkaba) required devotion. Love, devotion and attunement are the best requirements. Then one feels, sometimes even sees the teacher, so to speak, without any physical contact. So one usually starts with the living teacher. One gets into the rhythm of the teacher. But at the same time the teacher may not be perfect, and he in turn may be practicing the rhythms of Rama or Krishna, or Shiva or Buddha, or Moses or Jesus or Mohammed. There is another form of Tassawuri in the circumambulation of shrines. This has reached its highest degree in walking about the Kaaba at Mecca with Tassawuri Mohammed (effacement into the Prophet, may Allah's Blessings be upon Him). This no doubt is the highest, hardest and also most rewarding practice. But being highest and hardest it is like walking up a steep cliff, and it is better to learn to walk first, then climb slopes. Once one learns the principle, then it can be applied in many ways.
There is another way called Akhlak Allah, which is to feel God, to feel that one is in His Presence, that one is walking with Him and He is walking within one. This is a most beneficial practice, and everybody can learn to do it." -S.A.M. .......... |