Article

Classics and Modern Theories: Managing Life the Yasavi Way

Nisar Ahmed
Director, Green Meadows Consulting

Khoja Ahmad Yasavi narrated a story to his disciples. Idries Shah in his book The Book of the Book (Octagon Press, London) has mentioned this story as follows.

A Sufi taught his disciples (murids) from a store of wisdom which seemed inexhaustible. He attributed all this knowledge to a very voluminous book which was kept very honourably like a sacred possession in his room. The Sufi never allowed his murids to approach and open this book. When he died, his murids, regarding themselves as his rightful heirs, ran to open the book. They were very anxious to acquire all the knowledge this book contained.

They were surprised, confused, and disappointed when they found that the thick volume contained blank pages with only one written page. And the only phrase on this written page read: “When you realize the difference between the container and the content, you will have knowledge.”

The murids took the book to some famous scholars of that time for interpretation. The scholars, who were initially happy to receive the book which was left behind by the famous Sufi, shooed away the murids because they thought the book to be a hoax. The response of those scholars was mainly a consequence of the fact that they had a limited vision and could merely see the literal meaning of any text. They could not imagine a book which could do something; they were accustomed to only a book which said something.

The murids took the book to some famous scholars of that time for interpretation. The scholars, who were initially happy to receive the book which was left behind by the famous Sufi, shooed away the murids because they thought the book to be a hoax. The response of those scholars was mainly a consequence of the fact that they had a limited vision and could merely see the literal meaning of any text. They could not imagine a book which could do something; they were accustomed to only a book which said something.

Dynamic Knowledge and its Application to Life
Khoja Ahmad Yasavi told his murids to learn and practice the content of knowledge and never to get trapped in its outer form. When it came to the understanding of sufi order (tariqa) Yasavi avoided blind unconscious obedience and advocated an active pursuit. He did not approve withdrawal into solitude and expecting that God will take care of everything (tawakkul). He never took alms nor accepted donation for himself. In Fakrnama he advises his followers to eat lawful (halal) and healthy food. He preferred an active understanding of tawakkul, and by encouraging earning one’s livelihood by oneself, he indirectly provided labour and manpower to the society. Yasavi applied this concept to his own life. He worked to earn his bread and had tawakkul in God that his labour will bear him fruit. Khoja Ahmad Yasawi lived by making wooden oars and ladles until he was 63 year old.

Through his thought and tariqa Ahmad Yasavi laid emphasis on being systematic and disciplined in life and learning. Some basic requirements to lead a systematic and disciplined life, in Yasavi’s views, are : knowledge of truth; absolute consciousness; realized truthfulness; full certainty; tawakkul, and subtle contemplation. He also suggested some obligations which must be fulfilled by everybody. These are: seeking God’s approval and proximity to Him; continuous communication with Him; not losing hope irrespective of conditions; continuous praise of God; and thinking of meeting Him.

In order to put life long learning and its application to ultimate outcome in focus, Yasavi has paid special attention in his writings to remembrance of death – called rabita-e-maut by him. He exhorted his murids to apply these principles to their life with a view towards preparing themselves for their graves.

Four Directional Path of Learning
Irfan Gundez in his article ‘Ahmed Yasavinin Tarikat ve Irsad Analyisi’ in Ilim ve Sanat, July 1993 has elaborated upon Yesevi’s principle of achieving mastery in tariqa. In order to move upwards from initiation to spiritually advanced levels one must achieve mastery in four directions: Space (makaan), Time (Zamaan), Human brotherhood (Ulfat-e-insaan), and a Master (Rabt-e-Sultaan). These are psychological aspects of learning process which also help in keeping the followers together.

In Yasavi’s tariqa a master-disciple (murshid-murid) relationship can be achieved only through a material and spiritual union. In one of his poems in Divan-e-Hikmat he says: "Whoever joins the tariqa without shariah (basics of Islam),
Satan comes and takes his imaan (faith) away.
And whoever sets out without a pir-o-murshid (master),
Becomes confused and goes astray.
The tariqa needs a wise murshid (master),
And the murshid needs a faithful murid."

In today’s world with short lived faith and misplaced trust it is important to recall the teachings of great Sufis. This conference will do a great service to the mankind because a recall of Ahmad Yasavi’s teachings will help restore Ulfat-e-insaan in today’s turbulent times. Through this paper I would like to place on record my sincere gratitude towards H.E. Gurbanguly Berdimuhemedov, the President of Turkmenistan, for this useful and relevant conference.