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brother · Joined: 15 Aug 2005 Posts: 8920 Location: London/Cyprus

Sufism comes to Nicosia - North gears up for a week of religious and cultural festivities
By Simon Bahceli

Quote: WITH SUFISM being one of the fastest growing religious/philosophical cults in the West, the upcoming week-long festivities organised by the Rumi Institute in north Nicosia are likely to raise interest both locally and abroad.

Even those unfamiliar with Sufism, will have heard of the Whirling Dervishes. But their dancing is not simply an enchanting visual spectacle: it is steeped in culture, belief and tradition.

Quote: This is fourth year the Mevlana week has been celebrated and Kamil is hopeful that in time it will become an important part of Cypriot cultural life. The variety of events taking place is impressive, ranging from lectures on the philosophy and history of the Mevlana, and his book the Mesnevi, to concerts, dance performances and exhibitions.

This year’s Mevlana week is the most auspicious yet, Kamil insists

“For the first time we have a truly international flavour to the events with contributors coming from the US, France, Britain and Turkey to join those from Cyprus.”

Quote: The Mevlana week, to which “all are invited” kicks off on December 5 at 4pm with a ney recital by Sadreddin Ozcimi, Turkey’s most renown Sufi neyzen, and poetry at the Mevlevihane near Kyrenia Gate in Nicosia. Later in the evening at Ozcimi will perform again at greater length at the Ataturk Culture and Congress Centre at the Near East University in Dikomo, north of Nicosia. The performance is titled “The Voice of Love”.

On December 7 at 7.30pm another ney performance by two of Turkey’s top players Erol Soytac and Muzzafer Ahad will take place at the Ataturk Culture and Congress Centre, followed by poetic dialogues on the meaning of the Mesnevi.

December 8 and 9 see two days of symposiums on the cultural, historical, spiritual and artistic heritage of Sufism involving an awesome array of academics from across the globe. Those wishing to attend should be aware that the symposium on the 8th will be in Turkish while the one on the 9th will be in English. Both begin at 9.30am and take place at the Ataturk Cultural and Congress Centre.

But for many, the highlight of the week will be the Sema (Whirling Dervish) performances. These will take place at the Mevlevihane at 4pm on December 9, at 7.30pm at the Ataturk Cultural Centre, at 7.30pm on December 10 at the Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU), at 7.30 on the campus of the Middle East Technical University (METU) near Morphou, and at the Kyrenia American University (GAU) at 7.30pm on December 12.

http://www.cyprus-mail.com/news/

Dhavlos · Joined: 13 Aug 2005 Posts: 4697 Location: Birmingham

what is sufism? Is it a cult? a bad thing? a good thnig? Im confused

brother · Joined: 15 Aug 2005 Posts: 8920 Location: London/Cyprus

Dhavlos wrote: what is sufism? Is it a cult? a bad thing? a good thnig? Im confused

Check out the todays version of online cyprus mail as it has a great write up on it, you will find it very interesting.

And i await your comments.

Dhavlos · Joined: 13 Aug 2005 Posts: 4697 Location: Birmingham

oh, sounds interesting.

They sound very hippy-like...if you see what i mean :)

Ok, they are not a cult as such imo....

cannedmoose · Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2005 4:21 pm Post subject:

Dhavlos wrote: Ok, they are not a cult as such imo....

Depends on your definition of cult... Greek Orthodoxy or Islam would be considered cults by some :wink:

I think sufism is great, I've seen a demonstration by some 'whirling dervishes' and it was an incredible spectacle.

brother · Joined: 15 Aug 2005 Posts: 8920 Location: London/Cyprus

Watching them spin for time is so hypnotic and relaxing at the same time, really fascinates me and i think its a very decent religion imo.

Xenos 2Fan · Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2005 6:43 pm Post subject:

These guys are great! They came to Dallas last year and I took a bunch of my american friends to see them. The music is soothing and the whirling dervishes were hypnotic. My friends commented that they got "high" just watching these guys. :lol: :lol:
They really are awesome.

garbitsch · Joined: 09 Oct 2005 Posts: 767 Location: Cyprus

If all Turks were sufis, then there would be no problems in Turkey... every body would be whirling :)

Great Turk · Joined: 02 Dec 2005 Posts: 180

The Osmali Turk (Ottoman Turks) where Sufi and thats when we where on top of the world.

Great Turk · Joined: 02 Dec 2005 Posts: 180

Problem is people have mixed Sufism up with being some form of new age humanist\hippy movement. Sufism is about Islam and following the example of the last Prophet (sav). The Sultans had sheiks who where Sufi with some of the Sultans themselves belong to Sufi Tarikats

brother · Joined: 15 Aug 2005 Posts: 8920 Location: London/Cyprus

Hi Great Turk and welcome to the forum :welcome:

Crash Test Dummy · Joined: 25 Sep 2005 Posts: 4911 Location: London(ish)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sufism

seems intresting. I still prefer Harry Chrishnas. I dont know how to spell it :oops:

Xenos 2Fan · Posted: Sat Dec 03, 2005 1:19 pm Post subject:

Crash Test Dummy wrote: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sufism

seems intresting. I still prefer Harry Chrishnas. I dont know how to spell it :oops:

Hari Krishna

Crash Test Dummy · Joined: 25 Sep 2005 Posts: 4911 Location: London(ish)

Turns out its spelt Hare not Hari

Xenos 2Fan · Posted: Sat Dec 03, 2005 1:45 pm Post subject:

Crash Test Dummy wrote: Turns out its spelt Hare not Hari

Close enough.