We all understand the importance of philosophy in our daily lives. I want to explore the benefits and crucial role of philosophies like Sufism and Taoism for the mind, body, and soul.
What sets my articles apart is the in-depth look at these philosophies and their reasoning. As a gold fueler, keep reading; you won’t regret it.
Overview:
- Learning Eastern philosophies like Sufism and Taoism can help you understand half the world and become a better human being.
- Focusing solely on Western knowledge limits your understanding. Eastern knowledge can improve your social skills.
- Eastern philosophies offer unique views on love and esoteric knowledge.
- Be mindful of fake gurus who seek power. Follow science and logic, and don’t believe anyone is “better than you.”
- Sufism, a spiritual practice aimed at the inner journey of self-exploration, may be helpful for anxiety and mental health.
What is The Sufism?
Sufism, also known as Tasawwuf, is a mystical practice within Islam. It focuses on Islamic purification, spirituality, ritualism, asceticism, and esotericism. Sufis seek the truth of divine love and knowledge through the direct personal experience of God. They follow mystical paths to understand humanity and God and experience divine love and wisdom. Sufism has played an important role in Muslim society by educating the masses and deepening their spiritual concerns.
Sufism And Other Philosophical Views Might Helpful For Anxiety
Sufism, a spiritual practice aimed at the inner journey of self-exploration and knowing one’s “true self,” may be helpful for anxiety.
Sufism resonates with psychological thinking of getting to know the “true self” and unshackling from the false perception of oneself acquired from the environment, prejudices, and others. The belief is that if we get to the core of our true being, we will be in harmony with the universe and its creator.
Sufi psychology is taking the principles and teachings of Sufism and applying them to contemporary psychology. Through this lens, our distress and pain stem from not knowing ourselves.
Here are some ways Sufism might help with anxiety:
- Understanding the view of the universe and cosmic energy
- Understanding life beyond the physical dimension
- Reducing existential crisis
- Improving neurotransmitters, especially feeling safe
How Does Sufism Compare to Other Spiritual Practices Regarding Mental Health Benefits?
Sufism, a spiritual practice aimed at the inner journey of self-exploration and knowing one’s “true self,” may be helpful for mental health. Sufism values such as seclusion, zuhud (asceticism), qana’ah (contentment), and tawakal (reliance on God) can help prevent individuals from stress and worry. Meditative dhikr (remembrance of God) can help individuals turn irrational thoughts into rational ones.
Sufi psychology is taking the principles and teachings of Sufism and applying them to contemporary psychology. Through this lens, our distress and pain stem from not knowing ourselves. Muraqaba, a Sufi contemplative exercise, has been suggested to have value in treating symptomatic anxiety, depression, and pain.
Sufism, Taoism, and Buddhism are three spiritual practices that have influenced societies and shaped cultures. While there are similarities between these practices, there are also differences.
Taoism focuses on cultivating qi energy and balancing the body. On the other hand, Sufism focuses more on perspective and view and uses spiritual techniques such as prayer, meditation, whirling, and other things.
Sufism places importance on human love. Like Taoism, love is important for all specialists in Sufism, and Sufis focus on love. The knowledge behind Sufism is deeper than others because its history is rich and supported by ancient societies, especially Eastern societies such as Persia and Turkey.
Rumi, a famous Sufi poet, has many quotes that explain the view of Sufism. For example, “The wound is the place where the Light enters you.” This quote suggests that our pain and suffering can lead to growth and enlightenment.
Sufism offers an alternative view to Western capitalist and materialist views and Western dopamine addiction.
The main idea behind these practices is not too different, but the cultural influences are significant. Sufism has a rich history supported by ancient societies such as Persia and Turkey.
Why We Are Anxious Species, And Why We Need To Calmer?
Stress and anxiety are a natural part of life and are deeply ingrained in our DNA. They can serve as motivators for many people, such as in pursuing money, protecting one’s life, and creating a meaningful existence.
The issue is not the presence of stress and anxiety but how one handles them.
Do Not Get Anxiety Because Of Your Anxiety
Many people experience increased anxiety levels when they label themselves “calm” or “anxious.” While understanding your issues is crucial for healing, continuously labeling yourself can worsen your anxiety. Anxiety often serves as a sign of underlying problems that may be helpful to address. Therefore, building resilience toward anxiety is essential.
What Are The Things That Can Help Your Resilience Anxiety?
I aim to provide a unique perspective on mental health and the role of Eastern philosophy in improving it. While exercise, meditation, and breathing techniques can be helpful, being a member here already gives you an understanding of what works.
However, the impact of incorporating philosophy into one’s routine to enhance resilience in the face of change is often overlooked.
How Can Incorporate Elements of Sufism, Taoism, Stoicism, and Other Philosophies Help to Manage and Reduce Symptoms of Anxiety?
Taoism offers a unique approach to managing stress and anxiety through practical knowledge and philosophy. Unlike some belief systems, Taoism focuses on the universe and cosmic energy, making it a holistic philosophy. Its techniques center on health and well-being rather than religious rituals.
While Taoism requires a significant investment of time and effort, with a commitment of 8-12 months or up to 2 years for full understanding and implementation, the benefits are worth it. Regular practice of Taoist meditation can help control emotions, change physical and mental states, and experience the benefits of this ancient philosophy without drugs or external factors.
Anxiety And Sufism, What Are The Benefits?
The primary benefit of learning Sufism is its focus on “love” as a core tenet. This unique emphasis on love has profoundly influenced contemporary spiritual leaders. Being in a state of love can have a powerful impact on the mind, as demonstrated by Sufi masters like Rumi and Shams of Tabriz, who devoted their lives to exploring love.
“Love is the bridge between you and everything.”
– Rumi
However, as modern individuals, our environment and access to information has changed, making it more challenging for us to immerse ourselves in love as these Sufi masters did fully. Nevertheless, learning about and practicing Sufism can still bring immense benefits when it comes to anxiety, and lack of meaning.
We Don’t Need To Deep Dive Like Sufist Masters
We don’t have to delve as deeply into Sufism as the Sufi masters did, to the point of losing our grip on the material world and becoming fully consumed by love. However, we can shift our perspective to view the world more lovingly while incorporating their philosophy into our lives.
Today’s society often disregards the importance of love and the esoteric teachings of Sufism. But it’s important to note that Sufism’s science differs from the Western scientific perspective, focusing on the inner self and symbolic meanings. The Western world often overlooks these teachings, leading to missed opportunities for growth and knowledge.
However, cultivating love can positively impact brain chemistry, physical aura, and world perception. This can combat negative energy and improve overall well-being.
“A life without love is of no account. Don’t ask yourself what kind of love you should seek, spiritual or material, divine or mundane, eastern or western…divisions only lead to more divisions. Love has no labels, no definitions. It is what it is, pure and simple. Love is the water of life. And a lover is a soul of fire! The universe turns differently when fire loves water.”
― Shams Of Tabriz
Sufism Works For Acceptance of People And Reduces Conflict And Anxiety
Society often portrays competition and individual strength as desirable traits while perceiving love and acceptance-based philosophies as weak. However, the power of authenticity and being true to oneself makes us strong.
Love is not weak; embracing it requires courage, as it may involve fighting against inner conflicts, resistance, and anxiety. The benefits of putting effort into loving and accepting others are numerous and enhance one’s identity by promoting a positive environment, boosting brain chemicals, and raising energy levels.”
So, let’s check it:
- Improved Understanding of Love and Acceptance
- Enhanced Immunity to Conflicts in Society
- No Specific Meditation Required for Understanding Sufism
- Understanding the Main Figures of Sufism is Enough.
Start With Slow, And Try To Take The What’s Works
It’s crucial not to depend solely on spiritual practices like Sufism or Taoism for managing anxiety. Instead, view these practices as supportive tools alongside other strategies such as cognitive behavior therapy, a healthy diet, sufficient sleep, gratitude, and strong relationships. Be mindful of obsessive tendencies and adopt a slow, balanced approach that considers all aspects of well-being.
Here the study said some things like that:
Sufi beliefs and practices can contribute to mental health as well as illness. The benefits might range from providing a meaning to life, improved coping, a better quality of life and mental health, and speedy recovery from mental illnesses. On the other hand, these beliefs and practices may sometimes lead to acute breakdowns and may be causally related to the mental illness or contribute to the psychopathology.
Our analysis shows that “mental health and quick recovery from mental illnesses” is important, even from a Western scientific perspective. However, it’s crucial to note that results may not always be favorable for those with severe mental illnesses.
While traditional knowledge like Sufism can have positive effects, relying on it exclusively without incorporating other therapeutic techniques may not yield optimal results. For the average person, fully immersing themselves in such knowledge might be challenging without historical background.
The temporal lobe, more specifically the right, is involved in emotional synthesis, spatial and time orientation, and strong emotional experiences, including the elevation of mood. As the mystical experiences involve modulations of these neuropsychological functions, mystical experiences have been attributed more to the right temporal lobe. Other areas of the brain especially the dorso-lateral prefrontal cortex and posterior superior parietal lobule have been associated with preparedness and conscious identification, and the altered perception of self-experience during the spiritual experiences.
“Instead of resisting to changes, surrender. Let life be with you, not against you. If you think ‘My life will be upside down’ don’t worry. How do you know down is not better than upside?”
― Shams Of Tabriz
Summary
Sufism and Taoism offer practical and philosophical methods for enhancing one’s well-being. Although Sufism is frequently practiced secretly, people have reported positive impacts on their mental health through regular engagement with its teachings.
Humans must investigate different philosophies and integrate their positive elements into our lives.
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