Talking Sufism with Professor Sara Sviri

[@manuelnunez8802]

Kabbalah and Sufism are Sister Streams of Mysticism because Judaism and Islam are not two separate religions, but, rather, two halves of the original Religion of our ancestor, Avraham, may the Eternal Peace and Blessings of HaShem-Allah cover him. I am a Jew and my twelve - year old son is a Muslim. We are as one. Incidentally, his mother, my ex-wife, hails from a long lineage of the Shadhili Order of Sufism. Full disclosure: I have been initiated in days past into three different Sufi Orders officially (Nimatullahi, Shadhili, Qadiri-Rifa'i) and one unofficially (Bektashi). I've read Professor Sara Sviri's THE TASTE OF HIDDEN THINGS, which is a wonderful book. Thank you for such a wonderful interview.

[@MrResearcher122]

Love it when these sisters, like doves descending from heaven, dive into the deep, oceanic mysteries of the those who have sat down, in this den of sorrow, to mourn union with God. Thanks.

[@EsotericMysticPortal93]

This is such a wonderful interview and made so much sense of my study of mysticism. My favourite part of this interview is the description of the Spiritual Path in Sufism and the following explanation of terms from that point to the end of the video.😊

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thank you so much. I'm so glad you enjoyed it and found it helpful. Sara was such a pleasure to interview and get to know. What's your name?

[@EsotericMysticPortal93]

My name is Jules 😊

[@SeekersofUnity]

Hi Jules ☺️ nice to meet you. My name is Zevi

[@EsotericMysticPortal93]

Hi Zevi , nice to meet you too 😊

[@Jazzgriot]

Love this, I'm a big fan of Sara Sviri. She's a great scholar.

[@ae9167]

That professional intro and lovely editing! Not to mention the consistently a plus content👌🏼

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thank you so much. A lot of work went into it, I'm so glad you appreciate it.

[@thegilmourfan]

This was a beautiful conversation, one that took me into a trip into your channel. As a novice in Sufism and spirituality in general, I was interested in your project, I found myself clicking on your videos of Spinoza and his view of God. Wouldn't his view be close to unity of existence. As I watched this episode and the Spinoza episode, there was this poem that kept coming to me, I wanted to share it with you, it's from Abu Madyan Shu'yab: Say: 'God!' and let go of existence with all it contains, If you desire the attainment of perfection. For everything other than God, were you to realize it, Is nothing whether in part or as a whole. And know that you and all the worlds, Were it not for Him, would be obliterated and destroyed. As for the one who has no existence in and of himself, Where it not for God, 'his' existence would be utterly impossible. The gnostics have been annihilated-they perceive Nothing but the Imperious, the Most Exalted. They see what is other than Him destroyed in actuality, In the present, in the past, and in the future. So look, either with your intellect or with your eye, do you see Anything but an action among acts? Examine the highest and lowest level of existence With a view that is supported by demonstrable proof, And you will find that all which exists alludes to His Majesty With the language of experience or the language of speech. He is the Encompasser of all things, from the highest to The lowest, and their Originator, beyond compare.

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thank you so much. That poem was beautiful

[@ChabadSociologist]

So peaceful!!

[@SeekersofUnity]

☺️

[@shloimeslavin5309]

just beautiful

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thank you

[@wsmjan]

It was a great honour to have this talk on spirituality... After long long time I heard something from different dimension, where u cant describe it or put it in words... I understand the hardship the guest made to make us understand the vision of different dimension... I hope she has experience it...

[@wsmjan]

Is there anyway way to get in touch with her..

[@SeekersofUnity]

I would recommend emailing her.

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thank you for your kind words.

[@deepblack67]

IRENA TWEEDIE!!!!!! I absolutely loved her book.

[@mendelslavin8704]

🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@yosefzee7605]

Zevi I posted my praises of you on my fb, here it reads : How refreshing is it see someone who grew up in this same religious context as me, from far away, go on such a beatiful and similar intellectual journey. He’s like my intellectual doppelganger... Except he far exceeds... (which induces in me a serious case of Kinaas Sofrim).. he has the intellectual confidence of someone who has mastered his field, and what ever he knows he knows thoroughly with no formal academic training it he far exceeds many who have gone to university . Almost hard to beleive and thoroughly impressive. it just shows that if you are enthusiastic and thirsty enough anything is possible...

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thank you Yosef. That's very kind. I'm glad this was posted elsewhere first so that you could go beyond _miktzas shvach_ and exhaust your praise lol. But, a modicum of truth, i'm far from mastery. I'm just beginning to learn how little i know in the field, thank G-d, (oh i see now, "the confidence of someone..." that i can take, sincerity/authenticity breeds confidence, משלי י ט: הוֹלֵךְ בַּתֹּם יֵלֶךְ בֶּטַח). It's a pleasure to have my intellectual and religious journey intersect with yours. Looking forward to engaging, learning and butting minds together 😘 And yes, stay thirsty. Keep Seeking.

[@raphaelwalterlin1681]

Does anybody know which of Jilani's books contains the mentioned poem? Is it 'the secret of secrets'? Thanks in advance.

[@alihameed5389]

Beautiful discussion thanks you, even though it's still biased towards the conventional view of sufism being all about non-duality, which it isn't. Also, not 'all' Sufism is about fana' and baqa', some sufis talk instead about Proximity as the goal.

[@skyjed1469]

Hello. Which books is Sara referring to please?

[@SeekersofUnity]

Hi. At which point in the conversation? i think she references a lot of works throughout. If you tell me what timestamp you're referring to i can try assist.

[@skyjed1469]

Seekers of Unity thank you for the fast response. at the beginning. She is holding one book and the one she is referring to the thick one.

[@SeekersofUnity]

My pleasure. I'm not sure what the first text is. It's an anthology of Sufi poetry, maybe Conference of the Birds by Attar (forgive me, it's been a while since the interview). And the second book is Chasm of Fire by Irina Tweedie.

[@LAILA-2816]

On a personal note with the ibn e arabi concept...sufism which stayed in the middle east to sufism which crossed over to Asia has differnt esscences the Asian sufism will have the effects of Buddhism and Hinduism because they were also practioners of reaching nirvana...but the sufism in middleast is more purer the influences of Judaism and christianity are more wholesome in the middleast.

[@SeekersofUnity]

Mmm interesting. Thank you.

[@kadergreen]

Your compassion and heart felt desire to learn are beautiful to watch. I love how you handle the professor as the gem she is. The heart learns in gentleness. In these times when I am angry at Israelis for having such ugly policies. I love knowing and seeing the other half of Israel. I need you to be visibly there so I can keep my heart open.

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thank Khader. Thank you for your kind words. These are painful times. We’re trying not focus on strengthening the light and goodness that still exists and not get burnt out by the darkness.

[@zevilover3591]

so what does that actually mean?🤔

[@LAILA-2816]

Wajib ul wujood is more easier to digest ie necessary existence.

[@yosefzee7605]

Do you know the group the group netzotzot?

[@SeekersofUnity]

I know _of_ it. Why?

[@yosefzee7605]

@@SeekersofUnity well I thought the theme and platform it be right up your alley.. we’re having a zoom class later today... check us out on fb

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thank you. I'll have a look.

[@SeekersofUnity]

Oh damn, you got Baruch Thaler. That's gold right there.

[@yosefzee7605]

@@SeekersofUnity ya, told him about you the other day.... Surprised your paths didn’t cross yet. It’s an awesome, awesome group. right along the theme of your project. perhaps we can feature you soon. Looking forward.

[@LAILA-2816]

Javi I feel am close enough to call you by your name...whilst listening to the beutiful lady I thought of something for you to look into...we call is SAKINA tranquillity which descends...I know you have something called SHAKINA something to look into.

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thank you so much holy brother. Looking into it right now.

[@madsenketty]

Annihilation -> Transformation