Excessive worldly attachment and keenness on mundane pursuits are causing tremendous restlessness of mind which disrupts mental serenity resulting in huge stress on the psyche of individuals. Many are getting exhausted in quest of such a means by which they can get rid of such heavy stress. The ramification of mental stress is also diverse. A number of studies were done in order to get over...
In the field of Dance Anthropology, the concept of 'ecstatic dance' has been used generically to refer to African, Afro-Brazilian, Middle Eastern and Shaman dances. Researchers as Jennings (1995), Baxman (1990), Gore (1995) and Camargo (1996) have begun to employ the concept more specifically, but very little is known about how these dances are induced. As a dance anthropologist, I turned to...
The essence and strength of Sufism lies in the renaissance of the human soul. The mystical experience of a Sufi ennobles his mind and elevates his spirit to an extent where he reaches an intimate and comprehensive understanding of the Truth and the Universe. This study explores the attainment of that understanding through contemplation and remembrance, or more precisely, reflection (tafakkur)...
Samâ’– musical listening accompanied by whirling – is one of many practices used in Sufism with the aim of opening the individual’s mind and heart to their greatest potential. Just as with zikr (repeating the Names of God), samâ' is considered a means of releasing spiritual energy, that is, of allowing the portion of divine light which lies dormant in the mystic to awaken, uniting with its...