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Shiva Yoga Satsang Interfaith Series
Swamiji hosts Shaykh Hisham Kabbani, speaking on the mystic heart of Islam
   
On Sunday, 7th June, we were delighted to welcome Mawlana Shaykh Hisham Kabanni and his followers to our second interfaith event. Swamiji initiated this program in honour of the forthcoming Parliament of the World’s Religions, to be held in Melbourne in early December. Over a series of four programs the Shiva Ashram we will be hearing from noted speakers from various faith traditions concerning the ‘mystic heart’ or essential spiritual core of their respective practices.
Shaykh Kabbani is a highly respected Sufi leader who is a spiritual teacher in the line of the Naqshbandi-Haqqani Sufi Order. He is also chairman of the Islamic Supreme Council of America and the Sufi Muslim Council. As Swamiji noted in his introduction, Shaykh Kabbani is a man of great integrity who speaks against religious fanaticism and violence amongst Muslim extremists, and he is also a mystic. Swamiji then outlined some of the links between the yogis and the Sufis, the chief being that both are devotees of God for whom practice is essential. He also remarked how much his teacher, Baba Muktananda, loved the Sufi saints and how he quoted from the wise and witty sayings of Sheikh Nasruddin in his nightly talks. Swamiji then told the story of the “soup of the soup”, a vintage Nasruddin story that is very funny.
Swamiji then introduced Shaykh Kabbani, who commented that Nasruddin was loved as a saint because of his ability to bring joy to his followers, graciously adding that Swamiji also possesses this quality. Shaykh Kabbani stressed the Sufi path as a spiritual journey of joy, love and humility and emphasised the need for a Guru. As he noted, “the spiritual journey is like being in a dark tunnel filled with snakes, without a flashlight. The snakes are our ego and lesser tendencies. We can only see them and avoid the pitfalls by having the light of the Guru to lead us”. Shaykh Kabbani said that the Sufi path is concerned with the “purification of the self” and, in this goal, it has a profound connection to the mystical core of all religions. “Anger takes you to disbelief” he said, whereas, “a clean heart, an open heart, allows us to worship God”.
The large group assembled at Kailas Nivas were then treated to a wonderful Zikr, or Sufi chant, that impelled Swamiji to encourage the Shiva Yogis to offer a kirtan in response. In the ecstatic flow of Sufi and Hindu singing that followed there was a true and heartfelt communication between our spiritual paths that was very moving and genuine, and a true example of interfaith at the highest level. One of the wonders of the event was the love that flowed between Swamiji and Shaykh Kabbani. It was obvious to all present that they had made an instant connection, each recognising the spiritual attainment of the other.
After meeting both teachers, the guests all shared an excellent feast. Many who were present that day said that our two groups were ‘spiritual cousins’ and the feeling of good relationship certainly made the event a wonderful day.
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