Sufiland
"Come whoever you are..."
- Jalaluddin Rumi -
(Islamic mystic, 1207-1273)
Sufiland, that is the name of our community, in beautiful Reute in Eigeltingen, Baden-Württemberg. People from all over the world, different nationalities and religious backgrounds have come together here to practice and live a life in a spiritual atmosphere and far away from the big city, in harmony with nature, the ancient methods of the Sufis. We feed ourselves, among other things, on what our garden yields, milk from our own goats and eggs from our happy chickens.
The community life consists, among other things, of practicing voluntary service to others, hizmet. Hizmet is one of the pillars of Sufism and is part of the charity we learn to practice here. According to the principle already preached by Jesus, peace be upon Him:
"Giving is more blessed than receiving".
Voluntary service includes, for example, work in the kitchen, in the garden, keeping animals and caring for them. Another pillar of Sufism is prayer. At Islamic prayer times, we put down work and devote ourselves to prayer.
There is also free time when everyone can retreat to practice daily dhikr, meditation. One can also take a relaxing walk in the beautiful Krebsbach Valley and listen to the silence of the babbling brook.
Public meditation evenings are held three times a week, and everyone is welcome to attend. There is no need for prior knowledge or a profession of faith; everyone participates in whatever feels right for him or her. After all, there is no compulsion in the Galuben! Afterwards there will be a Sohbet, a spiritual lecture, given by our Sufi Master, Sheikh Eshref Efendi. At the end of the lecture, there will be an opportunity to ask general or personal questions.
"Come whoever you are..." said the famous mystic, Mawlana Rumi already in the Middle Ages. We agree with this and invite you to come to more consciousness and thereby to a more fulfilling life in the here and hereafter.
Welcome to Sufiland!
NEIGHBORHOOD LOVE is written in capital letters for us...
Together we are strong
Volunteers, members of the Sufiland community, support, on request, those who are no longer able to cope with their daily lives or can no longer do their errands, so we are there to help and advise.
People who are looking for a spiritual life in the countryside are also welcome here. We lead a simple life with a spiritual orientation, similar to a monastery according to the motto: Ora et Labora, pray and work.
Breaking down prejudices
We want to help to break down prejudices and show that it is possible to live together in spite of differences.
Therefore we cooperate with schools and state institutes and offer an introductory lecture about Islam in general. Upon request, we are also happy to lecture on the mystical orientation of Islam, Sufism.
We give lectures in school classes, colleges, companies, etc. By prior arrangement, it is also possible for you to come and spend a whole day with us and experience how Muslims, and in particular Sufis, live.
Peaceful communication
Where people come together, there is of course sometimes friction, different characters with different views and expectations meet. It is a great challenge to learn and practice peaceful communication. It is part of charity to accept the other person in his or her differences without condemning or attacking him or her. We help each other to create peace first within our own circle, because change for the good starts first with ourselves and our surroundings.
Through the weekly Sufi teachings in the Sohbets, the Sufi Master's teachings, we are given the tools to better live together. We are reminded of all the wisdom that has always been known to us, but which we have forgotten due to carelessness. For example, one of the helpful principles to create peace is:
"The wiser gives in"