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Salaam e Sufi
released on: 18.11.2023
Published worldwide by Manish Vyas © and ℗ 2020
Mid November 1244, a man in a black suit arrived to the Sugar Merchants Lodge of Konya. He was Shams Tabrizi and was claiming to be a travelling merchant, he "was looking for something which he was going to find in Konya." Eventually he found Rumi riding a horse. And the beautiful story between the two of them began.
This album is dedicated to them and to all the Sufi Masters of all times, for their compassion, their silent guidance and their love.
Songs:
1. Mastana, Madly in Love
2. Salãm e Sufi
3. Secret Treasure
4. Mukti, Liberation
5. Miracle, Tu Hei Kamãl
6. Bismillah!
7. Teri Razã, Surrender
total time about 45'
below you can hear the samples
In the Sufi path, Sufi poetry is very meaningful and is an expression for remembering God and seeking for His merciful blessings. The path of Sufism inspires peace, tolerance, love and pure devotion. It encourages music as a way of deepening one's relationship with the Divine, where all those beautiful poetries are sung with utmost devotion.
Sufi music seeks to unite listeners with something higher, something which transcends the worldly. Manish has been related to this music along his musical and spiritual path, with his masters Osho and Gurudev, who gave high significance to all the mystical paths which can help a seeker find its true nature.
MASTANA, MADLY IN LOVE
Originally written by Kabir Sant Guru Kabir, this song expresses the state of being of an awakened one, so madly in love with truth, that he becomes fearless and totally oblivion of social structures and conditionings. Kabir, a 15th-century enlightened poet, whose songs have been sung down the ages by thousands of singers in India and no devotional music concert is complete without at least one song of Kabir, who has been loved and cherished by musicians in India and Pakistan equally.
SALAAM E SUFI
A Sufi’s path remains rooted in remembrance of the divine. The very well known practice of ZIKR, which literally means ‘to mention, to remember’ …is the core practice of Sufi path. Continuous chanting inwardly the name of almighty keeps the practitioner integrated and away from any distractions. The well known chant LA ILAHA ILALLAH is used by many dervishes in their sacred dances along with the Zikr practices, allowing them to melt the ego and personality, eventually merging into the divinity.
SECRET TREASURE
For any Sufi, the most sacred treasure is the abode of God, the most sacred place to be. In the east, it is taught to spiritual aspirants to keep their path and practices secret and not to talk much about it. In Sufism it is said that if your right hand is practicing something, your left hand should not know about it. One should preserve it as a sacred secret treasure so that it can deepen and enrich one self in the right moment. The powerful sacred chant ALLAH HOO AKBAR does not need any introduction to the aspirants of Sufism, widely used in various Sufi practices and music.
MASTI, BLISS
The word ‘Masti’ is very difficult to translate, but the closest meaning could be ‘Bliss’ or ‘Divine Intoxication’. It is a state which is permanent, yet very silent flow of love, joy, gratitude and peace - a state every spiritual seeker is knowingly or unknowingly seeking. More than for liberation, a Sufi hankers for ‘Masti’, poetically, the divine intoxication.
MIRACLE, TU HEI KAMAAL
A song written and composed by Manish. Kamaal means "miracle" in Urdu. In my personal experience, the force of love is a miracle and can be absolutely transformative. "These words and melody just appeared in dedication to my beloved wife Sã, who has been a 'Kamaal' for me in this life."
BISMILLAH
Just like Kabir, another Sufi mystic who existed a few hundred years ago in what is Pakistan now, was Bullehshah. In his journey with his master Inayat Khan, Bullehshah wrote some of the most amazing songs of love, longing and bliss about being on this path of surrender, annihilation and dissolving. Like Kabir, every Sufi concert always contains at least one song of Bullehshah. In this song, Bullehshah uses the analogy of the festival of color HOLI to express his love and dedication to his master.
TERI RAZAA, SURRENDER
One of the most beautiful and meaningful aspects that the people in India know and practice is surrender; it is an inherent quality found in most of the people in the east, to surrender to the higher divine powers, at some point in life, giving up all struggle, efforts and fighting against strong forces of life. There is a a quality of acceptance... and surrendering to the higher will of existence. TERI RAZAA means THY WILL and this song in Urdu talks about surrendering to the higher Will, the first quality of any seeker on the path.
"Any person who has knowledge of both outer and inner life is a Sufi." Hazrat I. Khan
Sufi music seeks to unite listeners with the higher planes. The pain of separation from the Supreme is at the core of Sufi poems, lyrics and music; and hence the intense longing to dissolve the physical realm and transcend into the spiritual universe, which never dies.
The purpose of Sufi music, is to create the sama or atmosphere to experience one love. Transcendental and ecstatic, the music produces in the listener a connection with that which is beyond the material plane. The music has the quality of surrounding the listener totally, to a space where one can become aware of the majestic presence, also call it divine consciousness.
Sufism, or tasawwuf, is not separate from Islam, but rather a stream of interpretation or way of life, emphasizing the interior path of mystical love, knowledge, and devotion to God. Sufism formally began in the 8th century as a homage to Muhammad’s simple lifestyle and spiritual life.
Many attribute the origins of the name “Sufi” to the coarse wool garment, suf, worn by these early ascetics, symbolizing renunciation of material luxuries. Others suggest the term derives from the Arabic word for purity, safa.
Deep gratitude to Swami Yogteerth, a Sufi master from India I've known many years, who has accompanied along the path. A being full of love, compassion, care and dedication to others, an open heart.
Sufism is the path of love.
Remember that it is a path, it is not a dogma.
some comments of listeners...
"This is so incredibly beautiful. Thank you thank you thank you; what an addition to my life, purest gratitude." Aine, US
"One of my favorite song of yours. Awww this song took me to the Festival time. Thank you for sharing Manish ji." Sonali, UK
"Gratitude, absolutely incredible." Dirk
"Amazing piece of music Manish Vyas ji! Thank you for this!" Saravan, India
"Amazing! Always a joy perform to alongside this track of yours. Congratulations." Alok, UK
"Beautiful, celebrative and powerful, such soothing compositions." Lisa, Spain
"The feeling you get in the song Bismillah is a mixture of joy, longing, love and a deep feeling of an eastern spiritual heart longing for the highest." Diana, Germany
"Amazing, from the very hearth of Truth and love. Thank you for making this ancient wisdom and love poems to be reached for us with this wonderful compose... Thank you all from Turkey" YT
"Beautiful indeed. Thank you Manish and all the musicians here." YT
"I am listening this amazing poems and the music with my tears... Thank you for sharing this truth with your music." Merve
"A hauntingly beautiful start, unfolding to pure joy...this is such a beautiful celebration of Sufi music, dance and poetry!" (about the song 'Mastana') Kim
"I listened it many times but yet thirsty! Thank u Swamiji for these wonderful pieces." Raji
“O God, if I worship You out of fear of Hell,
then burn me in Hell;
If I worship You in hope of Paradise,
then exclude me from Paradise;
But if I worship You for Yourself alone,
then deny me not your Eternal Beauty.”
Rabi’ah of Basra
“Every breath is a chance to reborn spiritually. But to be reborn into a new life, you have to die before dying.” – Shams Tabrizi
Special thanks to my wife for all the administration, back-office work and support.
I don't know the language, but everyone understands beautiful music... Patricia via FB
Each & every piece of music/ song of yours is so close to my heart. It makes me go in a blissful state each & every time I listen... Ravi via YT
So talented and inspired, sounds wonderful... Sara via IG
Perfect music for simply listening and becoming flooded with mysticism... Prana via YT
Review by the German magazine, Yoga Aktuell, Feb-2024
"Music has always played an important role in Sufi practices - it has been part of Sufism as well as the various paths and branches that have developed within this mystical tradition. Manish Vyas is devoted to this special and deep sounds on his new album and once again, he reveals new facets of his great talent and skill. Devotion and longing are the motifs that are constantly expressed on “Salaam E Sufi” and weave through the entire album - as a call back to unity and as a memory of our innermost essence. The "crazy" love for the One, which is so uniquely experienced by Rumi and other unforgettable Sufi poets, is sung here as well as the deeply permeated surrender to the highest, and also the practice of the Dhikr (or Zikr) has been incorporated into this remarkable album. To begin, Manish Vyas takes the listeners impressively into the world of Sufi music with “Mastana, madly in love,” written by the famous Indian mystic and poet Kabir, and then he delights the listeners with six other longing, devotional songs in the heart touching quality of Sufi music, that cannot be described in words."
Free translation. Original text in German by Nina Haisken for "Yoga Aktuell" magazine
“If you want the truth, I’ll tell you the truth: Listen to the secret sound, the real sound, which is inside you.” ― Kabir
Gratitude to this wonderful team!
