Desires, needs and fulfillment: Wisdom of Sufi Masters

—

by

The Sabad Project
in

Shafeeq al-Balkhi and Ibrahim ibn Adham were two prominent figures in early Sufism, both celebrated for their ascetic lifestyles and profound spiritual teachings. Their relationship was one of deep mutual respect and spiritual camaraderie, grounded in their shared dedication to renouncing worldly pleasures in pursuit of divine intimacy.

Ibrahim ibn Adham was a prince of Balkh who gave up his throne after a powerful spiritual awakening, choosing instead the path of a wandering ascetic. His journey from royal luxury to spiritual surrender is often compared to that of the Buddha.

Shafeeq al-Balkhi, also from Balkh, was a respected ascetic and a contemporary of Ibrahim. He was renowned for his teachings on trusting in God and leading a life of simplicity.

One day, Shafeeq asked Ibrahim, “How do you manage to survive?”

Ibrahim responded, “If something comes, I am grateful (Shukr). If it doesn’t, I remain content (Sabr).”

Upon hearing this, Shafeeq remarked, “Even the dogs on our street manage this. If someone throws them a piece of bread, they sit and eat peacefully. If nothing comes, they sit quietly in a corner.”

Intrigued, Ibrahim asked, “And what do you do, Shafeeq Sahib?”

Shafeeq replied, “If something comes, I share it with others (Isaar). If it doesn’t, I remain content (Sabr).”

Ibrahim, moved by Shafeeq’s words, stepped forward and kissed his forehead, recognizing the higher level of spiritual practice in his response.

Reflection Question:

As you think about your day, can you identify:

  1. One thing for which you can offer Shukr (gratitude)?
  2. One thing you miss but are learning to accept with Sabr (contentment)?
  3. One thing you can offer someone as Isaar (selfless giving)?

References

  1. Darveshi Gakhrri, Principal Satbir Singh
  2. Image – Nicholas Roerich: Procopius the Righteous Praying

Discover more from The Sabad Project – Wisdom stories

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Comments

6 responses to “Desires, needs and fulfillment: Wisdom of Sufi Masters”

  1. Uthra5 Avatar
    Uthra5

    The following is my combined reflection on the current blog and the blog titled “Ganesha on Financial Planning“:

    There are two paths to spirituality: the Path of Renunciation and the Path of Fulfillment. I’d like to share more details on the latter, as followed in Hinduism. The Path of Fulfillment consists of four steps: Artha (active pursuit of material wealth), Kama (active pursuit of fulfilling ethical desires), Dharma (dedication to duty and service aligned with one’s nature in a righteous way), and Mukti & Moksha (moving towards ultimate liberation). These steps aren’t necessarily linear, and one can shift focus and priority among them at any time. I chose the Path of Fulfillment as it suits my temperament better. Unlike the Path of Renunciation, this path is complex and potentially tricky, risking derailment from the spiritual path.

    Now, coming to the question of how to stay content, feel grateful, and give selflessly. Personally, what has worked well for me so far is allocating a small percentage of my income towards those causes that help in my spiritual nourishment. I can’t say that this is an act of selfless giving, but rather an expression of gratitude for the help and guidance received in traversing this complex path without losing way. As Vicki Robin says, “How you spend your money is how you vote on what exists in the world.” This resonates deeply with me, and I’ve found that when I ‘give’ this way, contentment has been a natural consequence of whatever remaining wealth I have. In fact, I have to say that good karma generated during the act of giving has blessed me in ways that I have received more material wealth, enabling me to give further.

    Seeing money received as a consequence of service and value provided (dharma) to the world, and recognizing its potential to provide fulfillment for oneself and others, along with its ability to drive positive change in the world, fosters a deep sense of respect towards money. That’s why most Hindus worship Goddess Lakshmi rather than Kubera. Goddess Lakshmi is popularly known as the Goddess of wealth, but I would like to call her the Goddess of Fulfillment, as she graces her devotees to enjoy wealth while staying rooted on the spiritual path. Whether we like it or not, money has the potential to drive change in the world. If so, why not have our fair share of monetary wealth if we can handle it without compromising our spiritual values or peace of mind?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Uthra5 Avatar
      Uthra5

      I’ve easily found contentment with material possessions. In absolute terms, what I earn may be a fraction of what my peers are earning. However, my attitude towards wealth has mostly been one of ‘contentment’ without consciously labelling it as such. Whatever I had, no matter how little, was enough most of the time. This mindset allowed me to see abundance all around me, maintain a healthy & beneficial relationship with money, spend wisely and seek fresh opportunities to earn and grow wealth in responsible ways majority of the time.

      In contrast, I’ve struggled to be satisfied with my achievements. I’ve had my share of highs in this area, with achievements acknowledged and appreciated externally. While it gave me temporary highs, underlying it all has been discontent. This made me chase more accomplishments, sacrificing my peace in the process. Although I had recognised this pattern earlier, I could not break free of this tendency. It turns out that I had incorrectly linked contentment to complacency.

      I’ve heard the words “you don’t attract what you want, you attract what you are” from the Law of Attraction, but only now am I beginning to truly understand. Contentment makes you comfortable with ‘whatever there is’, but discontent ties you to your ‘wants’. Contentment within allows you to enjoy what you have and at the same time makes you open and available to something better. Discontent drives you to take massive action from a need to escape current reality, but neither the journey nor the outcome brings lasting joy or fulfillment.

      Contemplating on the ideas shared in this blog and its implication in my life made me realise this – ‘If an area of life isn’t working for you, before taking external action, learn to be content with whatever there is’. This is a huge paradigm shift for me. It’s time for me to consciously learn the art of contentment and apply to all areas of life.

      Thank you for creating this forum and providing a space to share our thoughts. I hope sharing my journey here helps someone who needs to hear it.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. The Sabad Project Avatar
        The Sabad Project

        Yes, we often confuse contentment with complacency. It is a good question to dwell on – As we practice contentment, do we keep running into the problem of becoming complacent?

        Some examples might help our thinking. Please share if you can think of some examples. We can also invite others to share their thoughts on this – How do you differentiate between ‘being complacent’ vs ‘being content’ in day to day living. 😀

        Liked by 1 person

    2. The Sabad Project Avatar
      The Sabad Project

      Thank you for sharing your reflections Uthra. ‘Giving as an expression of gratitude’ – is a wonderful reminder. Thank you!

      Like

      Reply
  2. Harish Baskar Avatar
    Harish Baskar

    Gratitude, I have noticed makes me remain thankful to what I have in my life.wonderful lesson on being content. Opens a new door to my perspective. Thank you

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  3. The Sabad Project Avatar
    The Sabad Project

    Thank you for sharing your reflection Harish!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a reply to The Sabad Project Cancel reply