M. R. Bawa Muhaiyaddeen, Sri Lankan Sufi

[cmac2012]

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

I saw a picture of this fellow in some magazine years ago and sent off for one of his books. He's a fascinating figure, as the foundation of sufi-ism is Islam, and he's a reasonable and decent man.

One quote I found from the link above:

Time Magazine turned to him for clarification during the hostage crisis in 1980, quoting him as saying that when the Iranians understand the Koran "they will release the hostages immediately."

I'm not trying to push Islam on anyone, I'm not a devotee of it myself. I do think some sane voices from that sector would be useful right about now. Of course, this fellow is deceased but one hopes that reason and sanity can infect Muslims around the world.

AFAIK, both pictures taken after the age of 60:

[The Swede]

Sufism interests Zen Buddhists (as you prob know) due to their ideas about non-duality, knowledge of oneself, the student/teacher relationship etc.

Some of my favorite quotes are from Rumi, here's a great one:
"If you are irritated by every rub, how will you be polished?"

.

[cmac2012]

Good one! I've read books from a few Sufi authors, can't think of the others now, and they have a soothing effect on me.

I'd like to see a video of this fellow, he has quite a way of speaking, at least in the transcribed form that I've seen.