The Mevlevi Order in a European Context (May 2007)

Peter Hüseyin Cunz

UNESCO-Conference in Istanbul, 9th May 2007

 

 

I’d like to start by affirming the existence of the authentic Mevlevi Order (or Tariqah) with worldwide activities, and I’d like to render some thoughts based on my personal experience as one of the appointed teachers (Shaykh) within the Mevlevi Order.

 

Known as a powerful and much respected organisation during the Ottoman Empire, the Mevlevi Tariqah’s profile changed with the confinement of all Tekkes and Zawiyahs by law in 1925 during the construction of modern Turkey and the loss of all assets as a consequence. Today the true kernel of the Mevlevi Tariqah as a religious path is relatively small and spread all over the world. In Turkey its expression is mainly seen in well-esteemed cultural activities such as classical music, Sema, fine arts and philosophical circles, whereas in Europe and North America it serves directly and openly a religious or spiritual purpose. In my speech I’d like to concentrate on the religious value of Hz. Mevlana’s works and messages, as seen from a European point of view and in a European context.

 

When analyzing the spiritual needs and yearning of people we are immediately confronted with cultural and social questions, for it is the cultural and social environment that mostly influences the psychological patterns of an individual. Culturally and socially there are remarkable differences between Orient and Occident, and these differences reflect on the way we react to and reflect on religious messages. Whereas a lot of oriental people have an understanding of the western way of thinking and feeling, the opposite is less obvious: there are very few Westerners who really understand the oriental way of reflection and feeling. I find it much easier to discuss with oriental people about western values than to discuss with Westerners about oriental values, and I feel a lot of esteem for those few who see clearly in both worlds such as the great philosopher Mohammad Iqbal.

 

We all know and hopefully agree that Hz. Mevlana’s message is not only compatible with Islam but is in fact a direct teaching of Islam. Now, how come then that people in Europe find strong inner resonance when reading works of Hz. Mevlana but decline or have at least difficulties with traditional Islamic values? One of the answers to this is the widely spread rejection of any religious dogma. In Europe the Christian church with its dogmatic approach has lost a lot of its power and given space to the values that were born in the Enlightenment of the 17th and 18th century. They include the notion of citizen, the vision of democracy, the idea of secularization and the acceptance of reason being the only and last authority for the determination of methods, truth and errors. Europeans today face much difficulty in seeing the beauty of Islam when it appears in its traditional dogmatic way. In contrast to this the poetic approach of Hz. Mevlana offers more freedom to the individual in his or her interpretation and assimilation of the religious content.

 

Be it in the Orient, be it in the West, every human being carries a treasure in the heart: it is the yearning for the first and last origin of being, the paradise with nearness to God. Those who have understood that the real paradise is not linked to richness, power and fame, will search for happiness through philosophy, esoteric values or religion. While most oriental people find it obvious that Islam offers the way to God, Europeans tend to seek for new approaches. They are receptive for various philosophies originating from Far Eastern and Oriental religions, among them Sufism. They search for an alternative to the ways offered by Christian institutions.

 

But we Europeans have a problem: in trying to find our way to God we use our reasoning and feeling as final authority for a judgement. This may be good for a start in order to prevent the falling into the hands of unfavourable sects, but does not work anymore when progressing on a religious path. We cannot comprehend God – this is impossible, by definition! The place of nearness to God is far beyond the limits of reasoning and understanding. Faith is needed to progress beyond ourselves, but faith cannot be constructed – it builds up through our experiences in life. God gave us yearning and destiny; both together may lead us to faith. In the prayers and Dhikrs of our Mevlevi spiritual tradition we daily ask and beg for the increase of our own yearning.

 

How do we European rationalists, intellectuals, disillusioned Christians, atheists – you name it – find a new door to spirituality if not by being touched in our deepest being? It is not the dogmatic speech of a priest or imam who would enflame our yearning. It needs the combination of Haqq (truth) with beauty. Hz. Mevlana offers this rare combination. It is this expression of essence that touches so many hearts in our European countries and helps us to see – at least for a moment in our life – a spark of God’s Light.

 

There are many publications of different nature using Hz. Mevlana’s verses in a simplified or distorted translation and interpretation. As an intellectual with a rather scientific mind I don’t feel attracted by such publications, but I have to admit that they do a lot of good in this world. The message of Hz. Mevlana is so powerful that it bursts even through romantic decorations and/or misinterpretations. Millions of hearts have been nourished by such publications! Of course a person already on a mystical path will most likely tend to wish for correct and professional translations.

 

To advance on a Sufi path it is of course not enough to be touched. We have to mobilize energies to create the necessary will for doing an effort and we have to use our intellectual capacity and our body to overcome psychological barriers. Many seekers remain stuck in the consuming of fascinating and emotional impulses, and the actual esoteric market is actively promoting this. Sufism fascinates many of us Europeans, but when it comes to actually walk on such a path we fear the barriers that we encounter, of which the two biggest are (1) the need for regular effort and (2) the accepting Islam. While the first barrier is common in the entire world, the second is a typical western problem.

 

Islam as it appears in the European public and media is threatening. The social separation of men and women with the restrictions for women in their public appearance – be in dressing regulations, in mosques, or in public Sema – is certainly the first stumbling-block in the endeavour to open up for an Islamic spirituality. But also those Europeans, who overcome this, will encounter more disturbing facts such as the incompatibility of the Khalifah and Shariah with democracy. Today’s Turkey is a living example of the difficulty in bringing the traditional Islam and democratic principles to a common denominator. I’m convinced that reforms in Islamic thinking are indispensable.

 

In the Ottoman Empire and before it was normal that an aspirant for membership in the Mevlevi Order was a Muslim. Common Islamic rules were not a subject to be discussed, and all tests concentrated on psychological and behavioural matters. Also the absolute submission to the Shaykh was no subject of discussion. In today’s Europe we are in an entirely different situation. Hence, as one of the appointed and responsible Shaykhs facing the wind of reality, I don’t require from an aspirant to be a pious Muslim and to accept immediately my absolute authority. If I would do so I could mainly attract people of eccentric character from fringe groups who are reacting to social frustrations and injuries. I rather welcome any seeker with an acceptable behaviour and respect and with open mind for our way.

 

Let me give you some insight on how the Mevlevi Order is functioning in Switzerland, a small country in the heart of Europe:

We meet every Thursday evening in a suitable meeting-place with wooden floor. From 19.00 to 20.00 it is reserved for a inner circle, and we do the formal prayer followed alternatively by Sohbet (teaching by the Shaykh) or the training of the Mevlevi whirling. From 20.00 to 21.30 the meeting is opened to a wider public with Dhikr (invocation of His Names) and the studying of the Mesnevi. In addition to the weekly meetings we celebrate four times per year a full Sema, gather once per year for three days in the mountains and organize once per year a trip to Turkey. There is no fixed fee to be paid, but we ask to help sharing the direct costs.

 

Regarding the observation of traditional Islamic formalities we believe that there should not be any compulsion. A peaceful heart is more worth than the exact keeping of formalities. As responsible for the Swiss Tekke I seek for the individual psychological wellbeing of the members to enable them to see, experience and live the beauty and universality of Islam. During the formal prayers women stand in the same lines as men, with a small separation between them. Those who are not yet prepared to join this Islamic ritual are sitting behind in a meditative posture. The covering of the head is a free choice, also for women. We don’t do public Sema as Turkish groups do it; we celebrate it in a private atmosphere. Sema for us is a form of prayer with no relevance for our culture. In our Sema men and women turn together.

 

Please allow me to conclude – in other words – with the following statements:

The purpose of the Mevlevi Order has always been to offer a service and a support to those who seek nearness to God. In the past this happened in monasteries offering refuge to those wishing to go beyond the accepted standard way of Islamic belief. Today we live in a globalized world with an undefined chaos of religious opinions, mainly in the economically dominating countries; and in this world the Mevlevi Order may offer a way to clarity and spiritual fulfilment. Hz. Mevlana’s message can be a door for Europeans to comprehend Islam and absorb its message for the shaping of one’s own being.

However, the basic cultural differences between Orient and Occident are to be considered. Traditional Muslims tend to believe that the observation of the traditional Shariah is an indispensable first act to reach Tawhid (unity in God), whereas Europeans widely disbelieve this, seeing the Shariah as a secondary matter developed by human reasoning during the Islamic history. This difference in view exists – also within the Mevlevi Order. This is a challenge to overcome, and I pray that it will be solved in the spirit of our Pir Hz.Mevlana.