Originally Posted by
Leo
The Sufis -- Twirling Dervishes -- and such also found Music, Dancing, Poetry and such as thoroughtly integral to their Spiritual Path.
I once had an old Sufi Treatise on different rhythmic timing sequences and how they would effect one spiritually and emotionally. They thought a lot about it.
Most, maybe all, Sufis will tell you that they are Islamic Spiritual Orders, but actually they have a huge history of being persecuted by the Muslims (i.e. they have to say their are Muslims or they get killed), but history shows us that the Sufi Orders predate Islam and go back into Zoroastrianism, the World's most complete and perfect Religions, which makes us wonder that it has become almost forgotten and culturally fosselized. But it is their Religious Orders that have sworn upon Music.
Oh, and I almost forgot, their are now many Sects in India that believe in Music. The Hare Krishna people are the most well known for it, but The Sathya Sai Baba People and the Sidha Yoga People now under the lovely Gurumayi Chidvilasananda but years ago under good old Guru Muktananda -- they think music is quite enough to put them into an ecstatic spiritual trance. Indeed, I used to drum for them.
The Hara Krishna people will dance, but the other traditions will rather sit down and sway to it. I suppose it can be an age difference thing. Dancing is REALLY for the young where old people can well derive every benefit from music while sitting down and lightly tapping the feet.
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