Introduction

Awakened Dreams was written by Ahmet Hilmi at the turn of the century. Born in 1865 in what is now Bulgaria but was then under Ottoman rule, Hilmi grew up under the influence of varied cultures. As his father was well-positioned as a consul of the empire, Hilmi was able to receive an excellent education and at an early age began to inquire into the nature of existence. He became fluent in several languages and aware of intellectual and philosophical developments in many parts of the world.

While still a young man Hilmi moved with his family to Izmir, Turkey, where he met the Mirror Dede (Dede is an affectionate term for grandfather or respected elder), a "cosmic doctor" who was living in relative anonymity in a local cemetery. Through companionship with the Mirror Dede and the influence of his mystical music, a new world of meaning opened for Hilmi as he passed through transformational experiences which are reflected here in the text of Awakened Dreams. Awakened Dreams is a depiction of the process of Sufism, the process of coming into unity of Being with the deep awareness that all of nature, and human beings and their activities are derived from and reflect the one Source, or God.

A contemporary teacher in the Sufi tradition, Metin Bobaroglu, in speaking about the importance of Awakened Dreams, said:

"Works such as Awakened Dreams, created within the field of Sufism, were produced as a result of inner experiences and portray Being comprehended by Essence rather than by intellect alone. Reason and intuition come together in understanding and the living of Truth within Divine Love.

"In Sufism, great importance is given to the complete human being, the one who is considered to have the qualities and attributes of God completely activated. It is through the guidance of such a human being that the inner process unfolds. Any particular beliefs in dogmas dissolve as the complete one assists the seeker to fall fully into his or her relationship with God and to recognize the importance of that essential experience.

"The spiritual journey is essentially the same for every seeker from the point of view of the stages of the ego. Within the Sufi tradition it is recognized that each soul passes through seven stages of development as it is refined in its ability to merge with the Divine. However, from the point of view of manifestation, this process is unique for each traveler; one should not expect the same manifestations as those of someone else.

"In Sufism—or simply, the unfolding of Truth—the process of spiritual evolution is referred to as Seyr-i-suluk, which means 'all that is seen and experienced by a seeker from the beginning of her or his spiritual journey until its end.'

"On the way through the stages of evolution, the spiritual journey is evaluated according to the spiritual dreams which the traveler sees. Within this tradition it is understood that no matter what or with whom particular dreams may be related, they reflect the state of the seer or dreamer. It is emphasized that these dreams should only be evaluated by a mature guide in order that they may be used as guidance for the journeyor."

Though it has all the elements of a fantastic fairy tale, Awakened Dreams is not a fantasy but a real transcription of the spiritual journey. For many years now it has been used by teachers in many branches of Sufism within Turkey as a means of reflecting on the state of an individual's progress on "the path of return," the return of the human being to his or her Source, and unity with God.

Ahmet Hilmi himself went on to become a teacher in the Arusi branch of Sufism. He continued throughout his life to work towards the manifestation of a society governed by Spirit. For him, this vision reflected the Islamic Sufi framework within which he matured. He taught philosophy at Istanbul University and published over forty books, as well as several weekly papers and magazines. When writing about ideas of Sufism, he used the pen name Shaikh Mehridden Arusi.

When writing political articles, he used the name Uzdemir, or The Iron One. His many humorist writings were penned under the name The Exuberant Kalendar (wandering ascetic). Hilmi was exiled several times for his activism against the Sultanate, and was eventually poisoned in 1914 during the final years of intrigue of the Ottoman Empire. He died at the age of forty-nine.

The visionary experiences narrated in Awakened Dreams weave a timeless tapestry; in order to help the reader follow the story, it would seem helpful to share a brief time line.

The story begins with a dissolute young Raji meeting the Mirror Dede in a cemetery (home to those who no longer exist. The ultimate aim of the process of Sufism is to die before death, to assist the melting of the individual ego within the unity of Being, of God). Through companionship with the Mirror Dede, Raji finds a means to begin this process of unfolding and melting which will satisfy the longing of his soul. Day after day, the Mirror Dede helps facilitate Raji's transformational experience. Then after the ninth day (the number of completion), Raji is left on his own. Yet this is only the mid-point of the narrative. Here, the second book begins after a lapse of several years during which it appears that Raji attempted to convey to others some of the knowledge and experience he had incorporated. However, we now find him in a state of extreme bewilderment. At this point, the Mirror Dede reappears and Raji continues the process of proving within himself that existence and nonexistence are the same. Through companionship with the Mirror Dede and his own consistent, sincere effort, Raji's being ripens into Unity; the lover and Beloved become One.

Raji then shares with us a few stories from the perspective of the Mirror Dede. Through these last stories we are ultimately led full circle back into the "happiness" of living and dying as an "ordinary," balanced human being of good morality. The book ends with the recital of prayers by orphans for the blessing of their benefactor. The traditional prayer offered here, the Fatiha, is the prayer for beginnings as well . . . "We begin in the Name of God, the Compassionate and Merciful," and before God we are all orphans returning to our Source, and He alone is our Benefactor and the Source to which we are returning. Existence continues to cycle.

In the words of the Mirror Dede:

"O Oneness! You are the endless, rolling sea!

"Again it is You who is seen among the many waves. Though You have given Yourself a thousand names, a hundred thousand forms, whatever is said—the sky, the stars, the spirit of the body—is You, only You!

"Even if the eye of man looks with intense attention at the universe—the sky, the blue vault, the sun, the world above, or this earth and this lowly soil—even if he looks at the face of Adam with the telescope of knowledge, it is You, only You!

"In hyacinth and basil, or in thistle; in the heart-rending roar of the lion, or the sweet voice of the nightingale; in the bud that lends joy, or the fragrance of the rose that uplifts the spirit; in the most lifeless particle; in the least of the animals; it is You, only You!

"In all my senses; in heart, intellect, and conscience; when I am drunk and bewildered with the desire of love; and in the pain of the moments when I am separated from my beloved; in my uncertain soul that burns with longing—it is You, only You!

"In my embrace, when the moon-faced beauty trembles; when in a moment infinity unfolds; when enraptured, I behold the snowy sky; in fear of grandeur when my soul is bewildered—it is never anything but You, only You!"

Love is returning us to Itself.

Camille Helminski
Putney, Vermont