Thirtieth Assembly (Khwan-Pur-Nemat)

Sheikh Muizzuddin asked if meditation was more excellent than all other forms of voluntary worship. Did that mean it was superior to voluntary, extra ritual prayer? If this is so, how could it be for, in such prayer, meditation is also included. The Venerable Master replied: In ritual prayer meditation is incidental, while our discussion is about meditation in itself.

Again, he said: Ritual prayer embraces so many fundamentals of the faith and includes so many activities such as fixing one's prayerful attention on God, reciting the Quran and praising and glorifying God. There should be an equality. How can you speak of superiority? He replied: The object of worship is not the worship itself but rather it is the effect and benefits derived from it which are esteemed. Meditation has an effect which surpasses all the fundamentals and activities of ritual prayer so that, in one hour devoted to meditation, a Traveller can cover more distance than another person would with sixty years' worship. Thus, it can happen that, while meditating, a person can be borne, in a flash, beyond both worlds. This is a special effect of meditation. How can it flow from fasting or ritual prayer?

How can every wayfarer travel like Khizr? How can everybody be as pure as the Prophet's?

Again, he said: Everything has a special effect which, in the pursuit of perfection, cannot be acquired except in it. Fasting has such an effect which is not found elsewhere. Ritual prayer has something special not found elsewhere. Meditation also has an effect not acquired apart from it.

Catch hold of my Sufi garb lest I take to hypocrisy: Bring me pure wine lest I abandon my devotion.

Sheikh Muizzuddin asked if meditation was more excellent than all other forms of voluntary worship. Did that mean it was superior to voluntary, extra ritual prayer? If this is so, how could it be for, in such prayer, meditation is also included. The Venerable Master replied: In ritual prayer meditation is incidental, while our discussion is about meditation in itself.

Again, he said: Ritual prayer embraces so many fundamentals of the faith and includes so many activities such as fixing one's prayerful attention on God, reciting the Quran and praising and glorifying God. There should be an equality. How can you speak of superiority? He replied: The object of worship is not the worship itself but rather it is the effect and benefits derived from it which are esteemed. Meditation has an effect which surpasses all the fundamentals and activities of ritual prayer so that, in one hour devoted to meditation, a Traveller can cover more distance than another person would with sixty years' worship. Thus, it can happen that, while meditating, a person can be borne, in a flash, beyond both worlds. This is a special effect of meditation. How can it flow from fasting or ritual prayer?

How can every wayfarer travel like Khizr? How can everybody be as pure as the Prophet's?

Again, he said: Everything has a special effect which, in the pursuit of perfection, cannot be acquired except in it. Fasting has such an effect which is not found elsewhere. Ritual prayer has something special not found elsewhere. Meditation also has an effect not acquired apart from it.

Catch hold of my Sufi garb lest I take to hypocrisy: Bring me pure wine lest I abandon my devotion.