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I was a Hidden Treasure and I longed to be known,
So I created the world in order that My Treasure
Of loving kindness and generosity might be known.
~ Hadith Qudsi
Sufi Meditation
Sufi Meditation is an integral part of Sufi Practices. A short talk about Sufi Meditation is given before Sufi Chanting, each Thursday evening – please refer to the Events section for details.
God says, “The heart of the believer is the house of the Lord”. Sufism aims to keep this house clean, removing the negative energy that affects us in our daily lives. Sufi Meditation is part of this process.
Sufi Meditation Techniques include:
- Prayers and Supplications.
- Dhikr that can be used throughout the day, as you go about your daily activities.
- Daily Meditations (like Mantras) practised when you are still, preferably in a quiet place.
- Methods of connecting the student’s heart to a Sufi Master. This is a cornerstone meditation technique of the Sufis that is important to the Naqshbandi Sufi order.
- An appraisal of oneself or accounting of one’s actions and thoughts.
- Direction from a wealth of Sufi knowledge, that includes the necessity to be present in the moment, how to conduct yourself in life and how to relate to society.
- An approach based on “Who knows himself, knows his Lord”, that is self-knowledge leads to knowledge of the Divine.
Mawlana Shaykh Hisham (our Guide) says, “As soon as someone begins to search for a spiritual dimension to their life, heavenly power from the Divine Presence will direct him or her to their spiritual guide. Love will then develop between the seeker and the guide. This love develops into a spiritual connection, so that the seeker begins their spiritual journey in a state of unconditional love, not related to any desire, but is a pure Platonic love. Thus the student enters into the Sufi way – into the Circle of Unconditional Lovers”.
Sufi Meditation provides the following benefits:
- Improved health
- Increase in your energy levels
- Improve the quality of your life
- Helps to cope with depression and anxiety
- Relieves stress
- Enhances memory
- Improves sleeping
- Reduces negativity and negative thinking
- Reduces irritability
- Enhanced creativity
- Develops spiritual consciousness.
Abu Yazid al-Bistami, a famous Saint of our Order, said “I have entrusted you with a secret for which you shall render me an account under the Tree of Bliss.” He continued, “We are under that Tree as long as we remain in the remembrance of God.”