Bismillahirrahmanirrahim

Ladies and Gentlemen, Lovers of Mevlana,

 

I would like to thank Konya Culture and Tourism Association and the Ministry of Culture for inviting met o participate in this honorable meeting.

 

Nowadays we have witnessed a very interesting development: a very big wave of so called “Esotericism” has seized the Western World. It was given the name “The New-Age-Movement”. From America across Europe to Australia there is an immens, so far unprecedented interest in books and events about esoteric issues. In the first years it was regarded as a transitory phenomenon. But as the movement has persisted for mote than thirty years now we can say that it is not a temporary but a permanent phenomenon to which we have gotten used to. There have always been certain movements at the borders of the Christian Religion which from time to time led to the formation of so-called “sects”. There has always been a certain interest in spiritual subjects. But never before could one perceive such a remarkable interest in real spirituality as today. It is not that easy to explain, where this interest comes from. It can be said with certainty that the main impulse derives from the human nature’s desire for selfcognition being embodied in it. This desire has existed from the beginning of time and thus can’t be anything new. In earlier times the Christian religions in the Westren countreis had enough answers and enough possibilities fort he development of this basic spiritual desire. It is new that today wide sections of the population do not believe any more in these answers and in the possibilities of their own culture and religion. They are looking for answers in other religions and cultures.

 

At the beginning of this movement there were the Indian and Far East teachers and Gurus, Many Yoga-circles were founded at that time. The fareast combatant sports were much in demand. But only a short time later began the interest in Sufism, with the literary works of it finally being available in the German language in extracts. Here Prof. Tr. Annemarie Schimmel performed an enormous works. Nowadays Schamanism is met with lively response in all continents as well as Buddhism.

 

Parallel to these main points of interest there were the formation of groups which assembled around teachers from very different traditions which developed their own doctrine of salvation. So you can find some subject in Western countries under the name of “Sufism” which you would never associate with traditional Sufism. Here our psychotherapists deriving from spiritual traditions and certainly very often do some healing work but unfortunately in most cases no transforming work is accomplished.

 

Now we have explained a little long winded, why in Western countries there is so much interest in Sufism and generally in the spiritual traditions of the world.

 

We think it is important to understand that this interest does not refer mainly Sufism itself but more to true spiritual contents no matter of which tradition. There is interest in vivid substance that doss not have to be put info question immediately, out of fear to reach again one of those deadlocks where in the and you find only hollow forms.

 

And exactly in this aspect we find the strength and attraction of Hz. Mevlana for Western people: More than most other sufi classics Hz. Mevlana touches Western people directly. Hz. Mevlana above all does not ask for certain forma, he does not prescribe specific duties. The poems of his “Divan” touch human substance directly. Western man with his individual personal experience can incorporate it also without any knowledge of Islamic theology. He feels addressed personally. He can easily comprehend the stories in the Mesnevi. He knows this illusionary world from his own cultural or religious background. His problems are addressed and again and again he receives very comforting advice directly from a “Loving God”. This repeated advice from the loving, all-forgiving God encourages him in his personal spirituality. Of course from the Christian Religion he knows this concept. However, this loving God is only accessible from within the dogma and forms of the Church, according to Christian self-definition. This is exactly the point, where often the man seeking truth separates himself from the Church and is left on his own. Hz. Mevlana is talking about the loving God in such a personal an revealing way, that one easily accepts him. Although Hz Mevlana was a Muslim and his doctrine is considered wrong from the point of Christianity. With the help of Mevlana we not only experience the Love of God as proclaimed in Christianity, but we learn to fall love with God and in this state of loving we can merge info God and burn in His presence.

 

Here arises the paradox, that many people in the Western World examine the Mystics of Islam without having the slightest need to be confronted with the religion of Islam itself.

 

Eventually the pressure of forms force the seeker to leave his own Religion and therefore he understandably doesn’t show interest to new ways o practice.

 

With the help of Hz. Mevlana he gets directly involved in the inner meaning without following a certain practice. The acceptance of certain practices in the course of examination will be much easier for the seeking one, as he recognizes that the practices have the sense to transport and to open such meanings which he yearns for. What often happens is exactly what the Western man would never have considered as possible at the beginning of his seeking: he accepts the Islamic Religion from free will and his own conviction.

 

However, Hz. Mevlana leads film further to Knowledge and to Love. He gives consolation it pain and despair occur, He repeatedly feeds the Fire of his own longing and love with hope and nourishment. Professor Joseph von Hammer Purgstall, one of the first specialists in Middle Eastern and Oriental studies in Germany said in 1618 in a poetical way:

 

“He swings him onto the wings of the highest spiritual enthusiasm, whichlees beyond all form of spirituality.

 

exceeding time and space,

 

exceeding cretion and fortune,

 

exceeding the fire contract of predestination and the vow of the Last Judgement info Eternity.

 

Where he is with the Supreme Being in everlasting worship,

 

with never-ending Love as an infinite love,

 

melting to One.”

 

Hz. Mevlana becomes through this absolute devotion and turning to God the guideline for every man, who is confronted with him, no matter which religion and culture he originally came from.

 

It is amazing that Hz. Mevlana plays the same political stand, that Turkey has adopted for many years and which it was assigned because of its geographical position and cultural meaning: The Bridge between the Oriental and the Occidental (the East and the West).

 

Hz. Mevlana and the Mevlevi Order influenced Turkey significantly. Without Hz. Mevlana Turkey wouldn’t be the country as we know it today. Hz. Mevlana and the Mevlevi are an essential part of the Turkish Culture. A Culture, which Turkey and its inhabitants can be proud of. Modern Turkey should become more aware of this fact. It should deal very carefully with the issues of Hz. Mevlana, the Mevlevi and the cultures of all Sufi Tariguats. This is not about folklore, which is o popular opinion among modern Turks. Folklore in the orginal sence however is based on spiritual practices in most cultures. These practices are mostly invisible, because their origins have ceased to exist for a long time.

 

In Turkey the tradition of Sufism is very present and it is-in Western opinion –a catastrophy for Turkish Culture, if a living tradition is degenerated to folk- lore. Unfortunately, many approaches from this point of view have become visible.

 

For instance: in Konya a so called Dervish group are turning in hotels for tourists, people taking family pictures in the Tomb without being reminded of the observation of the rules by supervisory personnel.

 

It this trend continues like this, visitors from the West, who have come from so far won’t come any longer.

 

It would be very helpful for those visitors, who are primarily seekers, if there was someone in the buildings or near the Tomb whom they could ask for real assistance and advice about their seeking. Not from those who pretend to be dervishes or are only interested in making business.

 

Finally we would like the responsible, not to close their minds to this thought, but to work towards its actual simple realization. It is not only about a special wish of a small group, but it is about an essential part of the Turkish Culture.

 

Inshallah all these things will be mended, we will be able to visit our Pole of Love in an atmosphere befitting his true spiritual meaning.

 

May the blessing and guidance of Hz. Mevlana be with us always.

 

Thanks a lot for your kind attention.

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