What is this initiation? It is a sacred trust given by Murshid to mureed and a trust given by mureed to Murshid. There should exist no wall from the moment of this initiation. If there is a wall, then the initiation is no longer an initiation. When the wall is removed by the mureed and the Murshid, then the next step will be the removal of the wall between God and the worshipper.

Besides, the Sufi Order is a mystical order, and there are certain thoughts and considerations which should be observed. First, when once a certain secret is entrusted, it must be kept as one's most secret and sacred trust. Second, take all the teachings that will be given, whether a bitter medicine or a sweet medicine, to the patient. Everything including illumination has a time; real progress depends upon the patience of the pupil, together with his eagerness to go forward.

Ghazzali the great Sufi says, "To journey in the spiritual path is like shooting an arrow without knowing where it will go and what it will hit."

The path of initiation is a path of tests: the test from the initiator, the test from God, the test from the self, and the test from the world. To go through these tests is the sign of real progress of the mureed; the one who will not observe these tests will be losing his or her time.

The Sufi Order and the world order itself imply certain ranks of initiators of the Pir-o-Murshid, and they must be regarded and respected as those who have gone further. This law is not any different from the law of nature and of life. A child who is disrespectful to his parents will find the same thing from his children. A soldier who does not observe discipline under the captain or colonel will have the same experience when he or she is a captain or a colonel. Will one ever arrive at that state, after not having considered and observed that which should be observed? Those who have gone furthest in any line -- in music, in poetry, in thought, and in philosophy -- have always gone in a humble way, greeting at every step those who have gone further.

There are three stages for the pupil, the mureed, to tread on the spiritual path. The first stage is receptivity: to take all that is given, without saying, "This I will take and this I will not take." The next stage is assimilation. The third stage is to put it in the mind and let the mind see the reason of things, but this after the assimilation. The one who goes consciously and securely through these three stages -- receptivity, assimilation, and consideration -- will be the successful mureed in the path.

Though a form of hierarchy might appear on the surface, the Sufi Message leads to true democracy. For it promises every soul that goal which is the yearning of every soul. The Sufi believes the divine spark to be in every soul. That itself is what makes democracy. With trust and confidence in God and the Murshid, and in that divine spark which is in one's own heart, if one steps forward, one is assured of success in life.

Social Gathekas

25. The Duties of a Mureed

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Social Gathekas

25. The Duties of a Mureed