Just a quick note.. we went and saw the Sufi ceremony known as the Whirling Dervishes tonight... wow. Before the ceremony, we got to talk to one of the Sufis,who explained the purpose of the dance -- to recognize the oneness of God, and to seek focus and union and spiritual maturity. And then, to return to regular existence with a sense of service to others. There's more to it of course, but it was moving and solemn and quite, quite beautiful. It started with music.. two stringed instruments and a flute and a drum. Then three singers sang the words that invoked the proper spirit and attitudes. Then the dancers very quietly and with great dignity entered, bowed, greeted one another and then began the dance.
It was awesome.... Sufis are Muslims who seek a mystical experience, but as our Sufi guide told us, "we are all the same, Muslims,Christians, Jews, we all seek the same God."
Then we sought dinner.... one last meal in a Turkish restaurant... much laughter, a bit of sadness at breaking up our happy little group. Five of us board a bus at 3 am to go to the airport, the others follow in waves.
Next time I write it'll be from 10 time zones away..and home.
Yay.
I'm posting a pair of Sufi pictures (hint, look closely at the feet of the single dancer) and one last kedi. By the way, I love my new camera.. the pictures of the Dervishes were taken without any flash in a darkened theater.
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