Meditation

From Vol. 8, No. 2

When we hear or think of meditation, we commonly imagine a p

peaceful state of mind. The goals of meditation that come imme
one's self from the heavy burden of everyday living; to get in to
be. This common understanding of meditation embraces, of cou
which has been a dominant characteristic of a major part of spi
practice, but is not what Sufism has in mind.
In Sufism, the law of meditation follows the essential rule of sel
attracted and attuned towards the Divine, Allah, all of his or he
focused towards Allah. One will find peacefulness and freedom
goal. Instead, the goal is to gain the knowledge that enables on
Knowing, All Embracing, Merciful and Compassionate. Meditatio
collect his or her energies from the outside world and gradually
To find this point in the heart is essential as not many are awar
point in the heart will take one to this favorable destination. Thi
and soul meet, and the material transforms into the spiritual. S
since the heart is the center and the seat of love and divine insp
which it sees.
We all are different, and so we have different attractions toward
There are many waves that connect us to the outer world surro
the individual and the outer world. We are attracted and busy w
and our immediate environment. In these interactions, we rece
we also lose energies. Through our constant interaction with the
sun, the electromagnetic waves of the galaxies, and more, we a
energy and information.
In Sufi meditation, a seeker will learn how to take hold of his or
communication and collect them from the outside to direct them
truly an esoteric one, and, as such, is not open to the marketpl
never meant for public appeal. Sufis have guarded all these ste
others who would inevitably misuse them. So, you, as a seeker,
Sufism, you must be especially careful that what you are seekin
merely claims the name of Sufism.
As we grow into adulthood we also grow more and more intima
point that the outside world becomes more familiar to us than o

us in different directions, leaving us with the sense of being tor

ourselves, of our own being.
In Sufi Meditation, the first step that one takes is to become ac
being within. Without finding that central point within yourself,
receive, and there can be no substitute for the actuality of the c
Becoming a center to receive does not suffice for the pursuit of
not seek to become a center open to receiving everything. Inste
attunement for receiving selected waves; in this case, spiritual
exercise so seekers may see

if they are as familiar with their own being, even their physical
are with the outside world, of other beings and things. I ask the
their eyes for a moment to try to see their own faces as accura
can. Many find it hard to see their own faces as they are, no ma
they have looked in the mirror to reassure themselves of their e
course, we cannot seeour own face, only mirrored reflections. I
it usually takes us a while before we are able to see our own fa
little longer for some of us, and many are simply unable to see
this way,

through a mental image of what is so seemingly familiar. We lea

beings as we thought we were, and also that it may take us a w
concentrated and focused, even upon the familiar.
Collecting your energy is essential to spiritual practice but is no

towards such a simple yet impossible journey.

In the practice of Sufism, you should be able to concentrate you
the Prophet (swa) said: your Salat, your Prayer, requires your p
heart is the first step of meditation, collecting your own energy
Thus, in meditation you learn how to take back your energies fr
them towards a point in your heart. And you must remember n
and not just any kind of teacher. The next step of meditation or
the inner heart. This journey or level of meditation begins from
directed towards your inner self. In other words, you collect and
towards your being, and then direct your concentrated energy d
where you will be able to witness Divine inspiration, as stated in
which it sees.
This step is easier, for concentrating in your heart and directing
heart is easier than reclaiming and collecting your energies from
dispersed. Many spiritual seekers may stop at the first level, the
energies. Others may get halfway, gathering their energies from
outwards toward some other, external locus.
Meditation has levels and stages. One needs a guide to be able
potentiality, desires, demands, and attractions of a seeker will d
along the way. As like attracts like, and the birds of the same fe
guide. If your guide will not take you to a spiritual and divine de
purification; to purify your desires and demands.
If you are searching for Divinity, remember that the Divine insp
of the most pure; as the Qur'an reads: the Book guides the pur
own being; searching within the external world will not take you
instead will take you to the marketplace of religion and to its pa
When relying on meditation, you need to always remember the
different goal than Divine inspiration. The latter requires a diffe
inspiration.
Relay on Allah, as ultimately it is the Divine who guides one tow