Understanding the “One” and the “Unity”

“Give us the wine of unity, and let it intoxicate us all equally, so that we may resolve our apparent divisions and differences. ‘We are the branches of a single tree, the links of a single chain’—with these words, Rumi, who sought to resolve divisions and discord, strives in his teachings to show the path to unity through various metaphors and his accumulated wisdom.”

A new student goes to visit his master, knocks on the door of his master’s house, and when the question “Who’s there?” comes from inside, he replies, “It’s me.” The door doesn’t open. Years later, he knocks on his master’s door again; when the question “Who’s there?” comes from inside, this time he says, “You,” and the door opens.

Yunus Emre’s forty years of sincere service at Taptuk Emre’s dervish lodge remained untainted and unblemished by questions like “I wonder? Why?” or by know-it-all remarks such as “Enough already—wouldn’t it be better if it were like this?” Respect, trust, and a sincere desire for true knowledge have transformed Yunus into a fountain of wisdom. This serves as a beautiful example of the state of “dissolving into the master” (fenafilşeyh)—the first step toward uniting the dualities on the path of Sufism.

Toward the end of the Surah al-Baqarah in the Holy Qur’an, our Exalted Lord states that His Face is present in every direction. When what is perceived in this context is understood as a sign of the very possibility of perception, the concept of “vision” emerges. Hazrat Mevlânâ explains the concept of “rüyet” with the words, “If you cannot see Him, try to correct the distortion in your eyes.” According to Sufism, rüyet becomes possible when the veils are lifted. The emergence of “rüyet” and the lifting of the veils occur through the transition from ignorance to knowledge. As indicated in the Surah Luqman, the granting of wisdom to Luqman signifies the revelation of true knowledge—which lies beyond the visible and is bestowed upon only a very few mature individuals. The veil is associated with ignorance, while rüyet is associated with wisdom and ledun knowledge. The Surah al-Kahf in the Holy Quran is cited as an example of ledun knowledge. During the journey of Khidr (peace be upon him) and Prophet Moses (peace be upon him), Khidr (peace be upon him) knew, saw, and acted upon what Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) could neither see nor comprehend.

Unity is experienced and understood through the resolution of division (difference). In division, distance and opposition are key. The opposite of division, however, is closeness and unity. Through unity, it is possible to reach a solution characterized by acceptance, respect, tolerance, fluidity, and the convergence of extremes in the middle. Our mentor, Turgut Söylemezoğlu:

“The essence is the mystery of love; the lover and the beloved are but a vision—
. Love has made love, my lord; I am a Mevlevi, a Mevlevi.”

In this verse, he expresses that love unites even the lover and the beloved.

“Love came, shattered repentance like glass; it is love that will mend the shards” – Rumi

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With the saying, “Love is a feeling that cannot be quantified or calculated,” Hazrat Mevlânâ points out that true love arises from the infinity of love, while also analyzing love itself: “This love is the result of knowledge; how can incomplete knowledge comprehend love?” “Through love, copper turns to gold; through love, sorrows become sweet; through love, murky, sediment-filled waters become clear and pure; through love, sultans become servants; through love, the dead are resurrected”

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For the Ehl-i hâl, the correct and desirable state of being should be filled with a sense of unity. To achieve unity, one must embody the attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors recommended and approved by our Almighty Lord—such as true knowledge (wisdom, inspiration), love, patience, tolerance, sincerity, compassion, humility, sharing, determination, hopefulness, and diligence. The training of the self becomes essential for this way of life, which can be grouped under the overarching heading of “the high values of humanity.”

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“If, even for a moment, you can hold your ego accountable and bring it under your control, the knowledge of all events will be revealed to you. That unseen form, which the universe seeks, will appear in the mirror of your mind.” —Hazrat Mevlânâ

Stay well