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Salaam-e-Sufi
release date: 15.11.2023
Published worldwide by Manish Vyas © and ℗ 2020
On 15 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.
In the Sufi path, the Sufi music and 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: Sufi music seeks to unite listeners with the higher planes. Manish has been related to this music along his path with his masters Osho and Gurudev, who gave high significance to all the mystical paths which help a seeker find his or her true nature.
“Every breath is a chance to reborn spiritually. But to be reborn into a new life, you have to die before dying.” – Shams Tabrizi
single track
BISMILLAH
was a first release
of the project "Salaam-e-Sufi"
released: 31.12.2022
Published worldwide by Manish Vyas © and ℗ 2020
BISMILLAH is a word used to ward off evil spirits, and also said before engaging in any activity or new beginning; in a wider meaning, it is an expression remembering God and seeking for His merciful blessings.
Hori Khelungi Kehkar Bismillah
Naam Nabi Ki Ratan Chadhi Boond Padi Ilallah
Haath Jod Kar Paav Padungi, Aajeez Ho Kar Binati Karungi
Jhaghada Kar Jholi Bhar Lungi Noor Mohammad Salalllah
Sibhagtullah ki Bhar Pichakaari, Allah Hoo Samad Piya Mooh Par Mari
Noor Nabi da Haq se Jhari, Noor Mohammad Salallah
Bullehshah di Dhoom Machi Hai La Ilaha Illallah
The song is a poetry of Bulleh Shah (ca. 1680), famously renowned as Baba Bulleh Shah, a famous Punjabi enlightened being, a Sufi mystic and poet.
Bulleh realized that the secret lays in diverting one's heart from the matters of worldly life, towards the path of seeking the Divine, with the guidance of a Guru. His Guru was Inayat Shah, and Bulleh's poetry is spoken in female voice, yearning the attention of his Master, or the Divine, represented as the male lover.
In his verses, Bulleh Shah further urges that true wisdom elevates inner consciousness, to feel a deep sense of unity and love with All, and intellectual knowledge alone would only have the purpose of feeding the ego.
Bulleh Shah’s heart touched the divine nectar beyond any distinction of gender, caste, religion, opinion, or any form of duality.
"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.
Sufism is the path of love. Remember that it is a path, it is not a dogma.
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 Verma, UK
"Beautiful, celebrative and powerful." Lisa, Spain
"Such a beautiful and soothing composition" Ambar, Nepal
"The feeling you get in this song is a mixture of joy, longing, love and a deep feeling of an eastern spiritual heart longing for the highest." Diana, Germany
“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