Sufi
Philosophy
Sufi philosophy contains many of the great truths of Vedanta. At
first glance it looks like Vedanta cast in the mold of the Biblical
religions. It has the Absolute, the Universal Self, and the Creator.
Similarly Sufis employ mantra, breath control and meditation to
commune with the Divine. Sufism resembles Vedanta perhaps closer
than does Buddhism or other eastern religions that have no Creator
or recognition of the Self.
However in spite of such closeness there is a perhaps an
insurmountable gap. The Sufi resemblance to Vedanta is cast in the
mold of Islamic intolerance and absolutism, which makes Sufism
function more as an enemy of Vedanta and gives it other beliefs,
qualities and characteristics. Though
we can find non-dualism in some Sufi traditions there is no
acceptance of karma and rebirth, which are considered to be heresy.
Orthodox Islam believes in heaven (paradise) and hell as eternal
realities.
Sufis believe in higher mystical
states but are quite vague on how these differ from paradise and
usually place Mohammed in the highest heaven, even above Christ, and
where even the greatest Sufis cannot enter. |