Entering Khalwa: An Introduction to Sufi Retreat Traditions

Guest Contributor, Catherine Eaton

Sufism is a mystical tradition of Islam whose followers strive to experience Allah (God) directly as the epitome of divine Love. Sufis believe that love is a projection of the essence of God in the universe. The highest form of human love is the pure love of the Divine.

Sufism arose as an organized movement during the time of the Prophet Mohammad  (7th century AD) among various groups who found orthodox Islam to be spiritually oppressive. As the Mongol empire expanded from Persia through Central Asia, Sufism grew, absorbing ideas from ancient traditions such as Zoroastrianism, Vedanta, Gnosticism, Buddhism, and Shamanism. The period from 1200-1500 AD is considered to be the "Golden Age" of Sufism. Most of the major works of Sufi literature and poetry were written during this era.

Once a widespread practice of Sufism, khalwa (retreat) has become less common in recent times. Nonetheless, seclusion still serves as an essential element in Sufism. Sufis practice retreat to concentrate on the divinity of the Almighty and to derive spiritual inspiration.

A Sufi murid (student) enters khalwa, under the direction of a shaykh (spiritual advisor), for a determined period of time, sometimes as long as 40 days. The student emerges from this isolation only to pray and to discuss dreams and the like with the shaykh.

Retreat practices include breathing techniques, meditation, fasting, silence, liturgical prayer, whirling dances and poetry reading. The devotional tools such as poetry, dancing and music are used to heighten the awareness and concentration of one’s inner mind, and to remind the seeker of God’s presence.

The backbone of Sufi practices is a form of dhikr - repeating, remembering and invoking the name of God. The exercise fills the mind and heart with positivity, while warding off negative thoughts. This heart-based ritual is often referred to as “the lover returning to the arms of the Beloved.”

Muraqaba refers to the practice of meditation and literally means, "to observe, guard or control one's thoughts and desires." Muraqaba can involve concentrating one's mind on the names of God, a verse of the Qur'an, or on certain Arabic letters that hold special significance.

In a system that resembles the Tantric chakra system, the Sufi practitioner seeks transformative results from awakening “The Six Subtleties” or spiritual centers of sensory perception that lie dormant within us. The goal is to dissolve "the doer” and awaken to the one Self. The process directly connects the practitioner with God in order to know things as they really are. “Meditation of the heart,” as it is called, leads to a death of duality and an understanding of the oneness of all things. Then, immersed deeply in emptiness, one can rest in the formless presence of the divine and awaken to ultimate wisdom.

Another goal of Sufi spiritual retreat is reaching “solitude in the crowd,” going about daily life with the constant consciousness of God’s presence. Grounded in the Divine, everything to the practitioner becomes a reflection of this divinity and essential unity, leading to a realization of one’s deepest potential.

The most renowned and respected of the Sufi poets and mystics is Jalaludin Rumi. Many are familiar with his extensive writings filled with sensual imagery, mystical symbolism and the overwhelming joy of merging with the divine.

This one poem by Rumi reveals much to us about the many benefits of solitude and retreat:

What is worth more: a crowd of thousands or your own genuine solitude?
Power over an entire kingdom - or freedom?
A little while alone in your room will prove more valuable
than anything else that could ever be given to you.

Catherine is a Los Angeles-based artist. She has been studying Tibetan Buddhism for several years with the Asian Classics Institute, while practicing retreats in the Mahayana tradition.