Lessons from the Unseen — Bāyazīd Bistāmī on the Sirr

Bāyazīd Bistāmī, known as the “Sultan of the Gnostics,” was among the first to speak openly of states of intoxication (sukr). His words burst with paradox: “Glory be to me! How great is my majesty!” — words that scandalized some but revealed the depth of fana’ (annihilation) in which the ego is gone and only the Divine speaks.

For Bāyazīd, the sirr is not a quiet chamber but a wine cup. When filled, the seeker staggers with Divine intoxication. When emptied, he longs for the next taste. His teaching reminds us that the sirr is vast enough to hold ecstasy as well as silence.

A practice inspired by Bāyazīd:

1. Sit quietly and begin repeating Allāh with the breath, faster and faster until the whole body feels alive.

2. Let yourself sway or move slightly if the energy rises.

3. If joy or laughter bursts forth, allow it. If tears come, let them.

4. When the energy peaks, suddenly fall into silence and stillness, as if the cup has been drained.

5. Rest there, empty and alert, until the next breath comes like new wine.

The lesson from Bāyazīd: the sirr cannot be contained by our conventions. Sometimes it is silent as a mirror, sometimes roaring like thunder. What matters is surrender — to be drunk, but drunk on God alone.

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