Ramesh visited the Sufi master shrine in Delhi. He asked David to commemorate that experience through paintings. Ramesh was very impressed by his experience. Here David depicts a new disciple making a written pledge to follow the Sufi path. That new disciple is none other than Ramesh. Over his right shoulder you can see his cousin, Sonia Dhawan, who also signed her pledge to become a disciple on that same day.
Sufism is the Western term for the mystical proponents of the Islamic faith. Sufi masters seek to find the truth of divine love and knowledge through a direct, personal experience of God. Sufis are not unlike the gurus, swamis, ascetics, professed religious and monks of other faiths. They have disciples who they lead to a closer relationship with Allah through various paths. Not all Muslims claim Sufis as a part of the Islamic faith, but all Sufis claim themselves as being Muslim.
A bit more explanation...
Sufism is variously defined as "Islamic mysticism", "the inward dimension of Islam", or "the phenomenon of mysticism within Islam",is mysticism in Islam, "characterized ... [by particular] values, ritual practices, doctrines and institutions", which began very early in Islamic history and represents "the main manifestation and the most important and central crystallization of" mystical practice in Islam. Practitioners of Sufism have been referred to as "Sufis".
Historically, Sufis have often belonged to different ṭuruq or "orders" – congregations formed around a grand master referred to as a wali who traces a direct chain of successive teachers back to the Islamic prophet, Muhammad. These orders meet for spiritual sessions (majalis) in meeting places known as zawiyas, khanqahs or tekke. They strive for ihsan (perfection of worship), as detailed in a hadith: "Ihsan is to worship Allah as if you see Him; if you can't see Him, surely He sees you." Sufis regard Muhammad as al-Insān al-Kāmil, the primary perfect man who exemplifies the morality of God, and see him as their leader and prime spiritual guide.
All Sufi orders trace most of their original precepts from Muhammad through his cousin and son-in-law Ali, with the notable exception of the Naqshbandi order, who trace their original precepts to Muhammad through his companion and father-in-law, Abu Bakr
Sufism is the Western term for the mystical proponents of the Islamic faith. Sufi masters seek to find the truth of divine love and knowledge through a direct, personal experience of God. Sufis are not unlike the gurus, swamis, ascetics, professed religious and monks of other faiths. They have disciples who they lead to a closer relationship with Allah through various paths. Not all Muslims claim Sufis as a part of the Islamic faith, but all Sufis claim themselves as being Muslim.
A bit more explanation...
Sufism is variously defined as "Islamic mysticism", "the inward dimension of Islam", or "the phenomenon of mysticism within Islam",is mysticism in Islam, "characterized ... [by particular] values, ritual practices, doctrines and institutions", which began very early in Islamic history and represents "the main manifestation and the most important and central crystallization of" mystical practice in Islam. Practitioners of Sufism have been referred to as "Sufis".
Historically, Sufis have often belonged to different ṭuruq or "orders" – congregations formed around a grand master referred to as a wali who traces a direct chain of successive teachers back to the Islamic prophet, Muhammad. These orders meet for spiritual sessions (majalis) in meeting places known as zawiyas, khanqahs or tekke. They strive for ihsan (perfection of worship), as detailed in a hadith: "Ihsan is to worship Allah as if you see Him; if you can't see Him, surely He sees you." Sufis regard Muhammad as al-Insān al-Kāmil, the primary perfect man who exemplifies the morality of God, and see him as their leader and prime spiritual guide.
All Sufi orders trace most of their original precepts from Muhammad through his cousin and son-in-law Ali, with the notable exception of the Naqshbandi order, who trace their original precepts to Muhammad through his companion and father-in-law, Abu Bakr
