What is Wahdat Al-Wujud?
Wahdat Al-Wujud is an important idea in Sufism. It means everything is one because everything comes from God.
Sufis believe the whole universe is an expression of the one God. It seems there are many separate things. But underneath it all is just one Divine Reality which connects everything. The Sufi poet Rumi said it is like one song with different notes. Different religions and beliefs are all part of the one song.
Some Key Points:
- There is only one real existence – God. Everything we see are forms and manifestations of the one Divine source.
- The purpose of life is to realize this truth through spiritual experience.
- All things are inter-connected. Nothing is completely separate from the rest.
- Differences and divisions are an illusion that keeps us from seeing the unity of being.
Examples Sufis Use:
- Waves in the Ocean:
Waves may appear to be separate. But in truth waves are just the ocean manifesting in different shapes and forms. The ocean and waves are not divided.
- Blind Men and Elephant:
This famous story tells of some blind men touching an elephant. One man feels the leg and thinks it’s a tree. Another touches the tail and thinks it’s a rope. But it’s all one elephant. This shows how our perspective is limited.
- Mirrors Reflecting God’s Qualities:
The Sufi mystic Ibn Arabi said everything in the world is like a mirror reflecting God’s attributes. He is the essence behind all the reflections.
Why is Wahdat Al-Wujud Important?
- It removes false divisions between religions and beliefs. All are just different ways to approach the one Divine source.
- It leads to unity, equality and seeing the Divine spirit in all beings.
- It helps overcome the seperate ego-self and realize our true nature as one with God.
- It brings harmony with all of creation and nature.
So in essence, Wahdat Al-Wujud is the Sufi teaching of the underlying unity behind all apparent diversity in the universe. Everything arises from and returns to the same Divine source.