Teachings And Philosophy Of Bhakti And Sufi Saints

The Document is associated with the information related to the teachings and philosophy of Bhakti and Sufi Saints and also in concluding their importance.

1. T EACHINGS
&
PHILOSOPHY
OF BHAKTI &
SUFI SAINTS





SHIVANSH KHURANA
1/18/2015

2. “Actual joy is a product of spiritual nature.
It spontaneously manifests when the living
entity begins to love for One God.”Bhakti
Saying. The Bhakti Movement has a great
emphasis and influence on the human life
today because of concept: Supreme God’s
love and devotion.
People in earlier times worshipped their
own gods and goddesses. With the
emergence of big kingdoms and
development of the caste system, new
forms of worship emerged. Now worship
included elaborate rituals and ceremonies.
Caste structure divided people into low
born and high born. In most of the cases,
the Brahmins were given the task of
performing religious ceremonies while the
low castes were forbidden to even enter the
temple premises! This form of isolation and
discrimination led people to believe in the
teachings of Buddhism and Jainism which
disregarded the social differences. The
concept of the Supreme God and simple
peace of religion is devotion
or Bhakti which is the true form of worship.
Guru Nanak and Ravidas were two Bhakti
Saints who’s Teachings and Philosophy is
famous among people.
Guru Nanak was born in 15
th century. Guru
Nanak believed in worship of one God. He
denounced caste distinctions and rituals
like bathing in holy rivers. According to
him, liberation meant a pursuit of active
life and social commitment and not just a
state of inert bliss. The terms Nam, Dan
& Insan, which meant right worship,
welfare of others and purity of conduct,
were important part of his ideology. His
conception of religion was highly practical
and sternly ethical. He exhorted people to
give up selfishness, falsehood and
hypocrisy and lead to a life of truth,
honesty and kindness. “Abide pure amidst
the impurities of the World”, was one of his
famous sayings. His life was dedicated to
establishing harmony between Hindus and
Muslims.
Ravidas was born in 15
th century. He
taught that one is not distinguished not by
one’s caste but by one’s actions and that
every person has the right to worship God
and read holy text. Ravidas accepts that
Brahman is monistic. Guru Ravidas taught
removal of social divisions of caste and
gender, and promoted unity in the pursuit
of personal spiritual freedoms. Philosophy-
Tohi Mohi Mohi Tohi Antar Kaisa
Kanak Katik Jal Tarang Jaisa.
There’s no difference between Thee and me
and me and Thee, It’s just as an ornament
as gold in itself, just as a wave is nothing
but water only.
The Bhakti Movement gave simple religion,
without complicated rituals and removed
the bitterness between Hindus-Muslims
with pure devotion to God and charity Life!

3. “There are 4 rules for spiritual path of
God,” Begin, continue, make own spiritual
progress & serve the mankind.”Sufi
Sayings. The Sufi Movement Saints
emphasized and influenced the human
mind about the harmony, equality and
brotherhood of humans. They believed in
that God is Spiritual.
Sufism, which started as a reform
movement, laid emphasis on free-thinking,
liberal ideas and toleration. They believed
in the equality of all human beings and
brotherhood of man. Their concept of
universal brotherhood and the
humanitarian ideas of the Sufi saints
attracted the Indian mind. The Sufi
movement proved very helpful in bridging
the gap between the followers of the two
religions and in bringing the Hindus and
the Muslims together. Moinuddin Chisti
from Chisti Order and Nizamuddin Auliya
were two Sufi Saints who’s Teachings and
Philosophy is important contribution to
Sufi Movement & other Indian Socities.
Moinuddin Chisti; was active in 11
th -12
th
century. He laid stress on renunciation of
material goods; strict regime of self-
discipline and personal prayer;
participation in Sufism as a legitimate
means to spiritual transformation; reliance
on either cultivation or unsolicited
offerings as means of basic subsistence;
independence from rulers and the state,
including rejection of monetary and land
grants; generosity to others, particularly,
through sharing of food and wealth, and
tolerance and respect for religious
differences. He, in other words, interpreted
religion in terms of human service and
exhorted his disciples "to develop river-like
generosity, sun-like affection and earth-like
hospitality." The highest form of devotion,
according to him, was "to redress the
misery of those in distress – to fulfill the
needs of the helpless and to feed the
hungry."
Nizamuddin Auliya was active in 13
th-14th
century. He emphasized on renunciation
and having complete trust in God. He
taught the unity of mankind and shunning
distinctions based on social, economic and
religious status, helping the needy, feeding
the hungry and being sympathetic to the
oppressed. He was against strong
disapproval of mixing with the Sultans, the
princes and the nobles. He exhorted in
making close contact with the poor and the
downtrodden and adopted an
uncompromising attitude towards all
forms of political and social oppression. He
took a bold stance in favor of Sema.
Sufism became a vehicle of spiritual and
cultural upliftment of people. It neutralized
the Hindu-Muslim tension in society. Their
belief in equality led them to protest
against caste domination, consumption of
alcohol, gambling and slavery.