Mysticism in Religions

Society Religion & Philosophy
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Many religious philosophers have touched upon the subject of Mysticism in religions. Allama Iqbal is one example that I know of the Islamic Sufi Philosopher who presented the subject in Islamic Mysticism through his poetry.

What other philosophers are there? Share their work if you know any.

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Is this about Islamic mystics or all mystics from all religions ?

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All mystics. :)

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I was reading about the sufi mystic Rabia Basri the other day. She did a lot to help slaves integrate into main stream society and was against slavery of any forms. I like that she introduced the concept of Divine Love in Sufism because it is very compatible to my own religious beliefs. I think she is the only Islamic woman sufi mystic, I have come across. Are there any other women sufi mystics ?

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There are many but have been anonymous. For example, there have been few great stories about the mother of Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani (Rehmatullah) but I have not come across her name in most places.

Rabia Basri, for sure, is one famous sufi woman in the Islamic history and contemporary to Imam Hasan Basri.

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here u can fine punjabi sufi poets work in english punjabi n may b urdu

APNA, Academy of the Punjab in North America

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Lal Ded or Lalleshwari was a Hindu Kashmiri mystic who influenced many Kashmiri Sufis including Nund Rishi (Shaikh Nur-ud-din) .He (Nund Rishi) has in one of his poems prayed to God to grant him the same level of spiritual achievement as God had bestowed on Lal Ded. She was the creator of the mystic poetry Vakhs which are some of the earliest compositions in Kashmiri language. One of her compositions translated...

When my mind was cleansed of impurities, like a mirror of its dust and dirt,
I recognized the Self in me:
When I saw Him dwelling in me,
I realized that He was the Everything and I was nothing.

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when talking about Islamic mystics , don't forget Allama Iqbal. That man was a class himself as compared to other poets in mysticism.

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Good contribution guys.

In my initial days of learning about mysticism, and especially Islamic mysticism, The Journey of Prophet (SAW) from the city of Makkah to Jerusalem and then to the seven heavens always brought some discussion topics with my friends.

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Studied Mysticism in 5 religions long ago when I studied religious studies at A levels. I even wrote a long essay on it,don't know where it is,I 'll look for it. Since then I fell in love with Sufism. Religions other than Islam do describe mysticism a divine situation.

The other day ,I was reading an article in Sunday Magazine about Mysticism that Allah sent only 2 an a half/dhaai sufis in this world and they are

-Rabia basri.
-Khuwaja Gareeb Nawaz.
-Shahbaz Qalandar.

I wish I kept the article saved. Rabia Basri born in a poor family , even her parents had no light in their house , they had no money to distribute something on her birth. Later on , they found out this girl is going to be something in near future and she fell in love with God. I love her quotes, she was a true Sufi woman.

I am always looking to know more about Rabia Basri and Sufism, please share more about it.

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Nice to know this Lilly. I also like Rabia basri and one of her quote also inspire me in my life. The quote says that there is no fire in hell. Every person brings his / her fire from the world.

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Great and I love this one

O Lord, if I worship you out of fear of hell, burn me in hell.
If I worship you in the hope of paradise, forbid it to me.
And if I worship you for your own sake,
do not deprive me of your eternal beauty
(Rabi'a Al-'Adawiyya)

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I also read this one connected to quote you posted:

she was seen one day carrying a brand of fire in one hand and a pitcher of water in the other, and that she was running very fast. When they asked her what she was doing and where she was going, she said, "I am going to light a fire in the Garden and pour water onto it so that both these veils may disappear from the seekers, and that their purpose may be sure, and that the slaves of Allah may see Him, without any object of hope or motive of fear. What if the Hope for the Garden and the Fear of the Fire did not exist? Not one would worship his Lord, nor obey Him. But He is worthy of worship without any immediate motive or need."

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^ Amazing.

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:rotato:

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Beautiful !

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Can anybody list mystics from other religions over the past century ? Can we include Khalil Gibran ? What about Richard Bach ? Can he be considered as a new age mystic?

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^ I don’t know much about any of them. I love Khalil Jibran’s quotes though. He was a famous writer and a poet,what else about him?
**
Kahlil Gibran on Love
**
When love beckons to you, follow him,
Though his ways are hard and steep.
And when his wings enfold you yield to him,
Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you.
And when he speaks to you believe in him,
Though his voice may shatter your dreams
as the north wind lays waste the garden.

For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning.
Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun,
So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth.

Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself.
He threshes you to make you naked.
He sifts you to free you from your husks.
He grinds you to whiteness.
He kneads you until you are pliant;
And then he assigns you to his sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread for God’s sacred feast.

All these things shall love do unto you that you may know the secrets of your heart, and in that knowledge become a fragment of Life’s heart.

But if in your fear you would seek only love’s peace and love’s pleasure,
Then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of love’s threshing-floor,
Into the seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears.
Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.
Love possesses not nor would it be possessed;
For love is sufficient unto love.

When you love you should not say, “God is in my heart,” but rather, “I am in the heart of God.”
And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.

Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself.
But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:
To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.
To know the pain of too much tenderness.
To be wounded by your own understanding of love;
And to bleed willingly and joyfully.
To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;
To rest at the noon hour and meditate love’s ecstasy;
To return home at eventide with gratitude;
And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.

Really beautiful :k:

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Great Posts guys except psyah :smack:

Bro, you need to put more than the whirling dervesh → :rotato:

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Hakim Sanai :

There is no place for place!***
How can a place house the maker of all space,
or the vast sky enclose the maker of heaven?

He told me:
"I am a homeless treasure.
The world was made
to give you a place to stand and see me."

Tell me, if the one you seek is place-less
why put your shoes on?
The real road is found by polishing,
polishing the mirror of your heart.

I love the depth in his poetry. He is one of the greatest Sufi mystics.