Whirling Dervishes in Konya, Turkey

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Seeing a sema (whirling) ceremony in Konya, Turkey, the home of the Mevlana Order.

The Sema ritual began with the inspiration of Mevlâna Jalâluddîn Rumi and was influenced by Turkish customs and culture. It is scientifically recognized that the fundamental condition of our existence is to revolve. There is no being or object which does not revolve, because all beings are comprised of revolving electrons, protons, and neutrons in atoms. Everything revolves, and the human being lives by means of the revolution of these particles, by the revolution of the blood in his body, and by the revolution of the stages of his life, by his coming from the earth and his returning to it.

However, all of these revolutions are natural and unconscious. But the human being possesses a mind and an intelligence which distinguishes him from other beings. Thus the whirling dervish or semazen, intentionally and consciously participates in the shared revolution of other beings.

An important characteristic of this seven-centuries-old ritual is that it unites the three fundamental components of human nature: the mind (knowledge and thought), the heart (feelings, poetry and music) and the body (by activating life, by the turning).

The Sema ceremony represents the human being's spiritual journey, an ascent by means of intelligence and love to Perfection (Kemal). Turning toward the truth, he grows through love, transcends the ego, meets the truth, and arrives at Perfection.