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The Eighth Lesson: Sufiism.1267
The Eighth Lesson: Sufiism.
ufiism” is a term applied to the philosophical and religious system of a
“S large body of Mystics sheltered beneath the wing of the Mahommedan
religion, to which they owe temporal allegiance, but among whom they are a
“strange people.” Although the Sufis are to be found in Turkey, Arabia, Egypt,
and principally in Persia—India not knowing them at all except through the
chance visit of one of their number—still Sufiism is a direct offshoot of the
Hindu Philosophy, in its Vedantic interpretation and Bhakti manifestations,
and justice requires that we should include it in our consideration of the
Philosophies and Religions of India. Just as Buddhism, which is almost extinct
in India, outside of the far northern regions and in Burmah and surrounding
places, its principal following being in the foreign lands, is still considered as
a Hindu Teaching because of its origin in India—so do we attribute Sufiism to
India, although her borders enclose but few Sufis, and their great following
is in Persia, and other Mohammedan lands. Without India there would be
no Sufiism—without the Hindu Teachings the Sufis would be orthodox
Mahommedans. And, as you consider, herein, the doctrines of the Sufi you
will agree with us that their origin must be found in the Vedanta and Bhakti
Yoga of India—they tell their own tale.