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| Spiritual Abuse and the Sufi
Tradition (excerpt from e-book) Dr. Anab Whitehouse I'm going to make three claims: First, the e-book Spiritual Abuse and the Sufi Tradition is unique in the history of Sufi literature. Secondly, although the contents of this book are primarily about problems associated with mystical pursuits, nonetheless, the principles which are developed therein provide a great deal of insight into problems surrounding issues of fundamentalism and terrorism, for all three exploit a dimension of human existence to which each of us is vulnerable. Finally, you may think you understand such
difficulties, but 99% of the individuals reading this sentence have little
appreciation of either the problems that are explored in Spiritual Abuse
and the Sufi Tradition or their implications for the lives of most Muslims
-- irrespective of whether, or not, they are interested in the Sufi Path. You may believe this book has nothing to do
with you. I would contend it may have everything to do with you for it
raises questions and issues which you cannot afford to avoid. But, then,
of course, I want you to buy this book, so I am just trying to manipulate
your emotions, aren't I? And, you know what? -- I know you don't know the
answer to that question, and if you don't know the answer to that
question, believe me there is a lot of other things about this book and
about spiritual abuse -- far more important issues -- which you do not
know either. If those who are seeking to walk the Sufi
mystical Path are not very, very careful, then, many of them are at risk
of falling -- if they have not already done so -- into the same sort of
moral abyss which has engulfed those individuals -- both 'leaders' and lay
people -- who have spent their lives in denial with respect to the
institutionalized sexual abuse which was being perpetuated within certain
religious circles and, therefore, did nothing to deal with the destructive
behavior which was going on all about them and destroying so many lives in
the process. There is a special evil loose in the land, and it is preying
on those who have a holy longing for realizing their spiritual potential
and purpose in life. These spiritual predators swim within the
shadowy, murky coastal waters which flow in the channel-way leading to
deeper esoteric possibilities. These denizens feed off of the vulnerable.
They feed off those who are seeking one kind of truth, only to find
themselves consumed by another, very different kind of truth -- a kind of
truth which destroys, cripples, and traumatizes the holy longing which is
the birthright of every human being. Fraudulent shaykhs are, to be sure, not a
new phenomenon. In fact, they have been in existence for nearly as long as
the Sufi Path. From time to time, authentic shaykhs and travelers of the
mystical way have addressed this issue, trying to provide the sort of
insight, information, and understanding which might serve as warning buoys
for the unsuspecting and innocent wayfarers, but, this uniquely dangerous
species of human-octopus has changed its mode of camouflage in order to
better blend in with the environment and go undetected, and, consequently,
they have adapted to changing circumstances, much as master counterfeiters
might alter their modus operandi in order to evade the steps that are
taken by treasury authorities to identify and apprehend such individuals. Some of these creatures are
sexual-predators. Some are interested in money, power, and/or worldly
fame. Some of them are interested in all of these things and worse. However, there is one variety of this
species which, like Satan or Iblis, is primarily interested in one thing
-- namely, to mislead and misguide people in relation to the nature of the
mystical path. Indeed, these 'dajjals' (imposters) are confederates of the
accursed one. Sexual improprieties, or entanglements with
money, power, and fame may, or may not, be thrown into the mix in relation
to these sort of spiritual charlatans, but, in any event, the central
focus for such individuals swirls around the issue of gaining control over
people's minds, hearts, and souls in order to compromise, undermine,
corrupt, and destroy the holy longing within us. The purpose of these purveyors of evil is
to change the 'r' in 'fitra' (our primordial spiritual potential) to an
'n' so that our lives become embroiled in 'fitna' -- mischievous turmoil
and conflict. This is a seemingly small change that carries enormous
problematic consequences -- often with people not even understanding what
is happening, or has happened, to them. These present 'dajjals' are spreading the
seeds of doubt, confusion, alienation, isolation, conflict, division,
misunderstanding, and distrust which, increasingly, are tearing
individuals, families, communities, and nations apart. These individuals
are making it increasingly difficult for many people to discern the
difference between truth and falsehood because of the manner in which the
former are muddying the waters of existence through articulate, clever,
and well-tested modes of mis-directon, deceit, manipulation, exploitation,
trance-induction, and creative re-framing techniques. Some people, when they discuss the issue of
fraudulent shaykhs, say, in effect, we should leave such matters to Allah.
Yet, if everything were meant to be left to God, human beings would not
have been created in order, among other things, to be tested to see who is
best in conduct. The problem, of course, is understanding what kind of
conduct is warranted under different circumstances -- and, as one of Shakespeare's
characters says: "aye, there's the rub." The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
has warned about the errors of the left and right, while encouraging us to
seek the middle way. Acts of commission and omission are the loci of
manifestation through which problems erupt into the world, but there are
serious differences of opinion about what exactly these acts entail or how
to locate the middle way, the sirat-ul-mustaqueem. The Osama bin Ladens of the world say they
know the middle path. The alleged leaders who induce impressionable and
ignorant people to become suicide bombers claim they know what the
sirat-ul-mustaqueem is all about. The narrow, intolerant, rigid, dogmatic,
self-righteous, judgmental, misogynistic, proponents of 'taqlid' theology
claim they are on the middle path. And, their are many individuals who
assert they are speaking with the authority of tasawwuf, or the Sufi
mystical way, and are willing to help one, and all, avoid the pitfalls of
the left and right. Spiritual abuse can assume many forms, but,
perhaps, the most devious of all such possibilities is that which gives
expression to misinformation and disinformation, for without knowledge,
understanding, and wisdom, the holy longing within us is likely to remain
dormant, if not become atrophied and sealed over. The Prophet Muhammad
(peace be upon him) is reported to have said: "Verily, God does not
take away knowledge from the hands of Divine servants, but takes it by
taking away the learned, so that when no learned people remain, the
ignorant will be placed at the head of affairs. Causes will be submitted
to their decision, and they will pass sentence without knowledge, and they
will err themselves, and lead others into error." We live in a modern Babel where everybody
seems to be speaking a different language of spirituality. Spiritual
frauds thrive in such an environment -- indeed, it is like a paradise of
opportunity for them. Spiritual Abuse and the Sufi Tradition is
an attempt to warn people about many of the complex currents which flow
within certain dimensions of the spiritual or mystical way. These
treacherous currents are spilling over into many aspects of modern life,
and there are strong resonances of spiritual abuse among terrorism,
fundamentalism, many forms of education, and fraudulent shaykhs. Like certain church leaders and
parishioners, one can turn a blind eye to the evil of spiritual abuse
which is going on all around us and, thereby, become one who enables evil.
Or, one can begin to educate oneself about this endemic problem and try to
struggle, with other like-minded and like-hearted individuals, toward a
common, collective response to the evil which is stalking all of us --
especially our children. Whether one attends to this issue or one
ignores it, there is one thing which is certain. Just as there are
physical laws that govern the material realm, so, too, there are
principles governing the spiritual realm. When we ignore such problems, we
expose ourselves to the ramifications which may arise when we fail to take
heed, and/or assist others to take heed, in relation to the existence of
such malignancy in the midst of our lives -- both individual and communal. The book: Spiritual Abuse and the Sufi Tradition is as good a place, as any, through which to begin one's education concerning the issue of spiritual abuse in our communities. The aforementioned book is not just for people who are interested in the Sufi Path, nor is it just for Muslims -- it is for anyone who cares about truth and worries about the forces which exist that are seeking to eclipse that truth.
Source: http://www.sufi-spiritual-abuse-recovery-assistance.org Also check the FAQ section on Dr. Whitehouse's site. |