Intro

The way we’ve been taught sufism in this century and in the past century in America is different than the way it was done in the past. In the past groups were hidden. Tariqats were hidden orders where people didn’t live as out in the open in society as they do now. The orders werern’t monastic in the understanding of Christian monastism because marriage was permitted. But there was a certain monastic flavor to the way the orders were established. Now, sufism is taught right in the midst of society, and we live right in the midst of society while following the sufi path. Now, if you think about monasteries an