Emulation

Emulation and Cycles of Study 
ALI SULTAN

(1968)

THE TRADITION

The Bukharan spiritual teachers of the Nakshibendi, Hajegan

and Chistiya Schools have for long emphasised the importance

of emulation in teaching. To emulate the outward behaviour of

a teacher, however, as is customary in virtually all Eastern

systems, is regarded by them as the lowest form of practice.

The true form of emulation can come, it is believed, only through

being involved in activities of almost any kind, initiated by a

teacher.

INTERPRETATION AND USE OF TECHNIQUE

There is a sharp contrast between Bukharan and European

behaviour in the interpretation of emulation and example by the

different schools. In the tradition being studied, slavish imitation

of a master is regarded as the mark of an unpromising student.,

and just as bad as criticism. The teacher makes an actual

exercise of associating with him, from time to time, all of his

pupils in some of the affairs of everyday life. In this way, they

learn by observation and by co-operation with 'something

greater'—this something greater being believed to be an objective

force operating within the teacher himself. In this way, it is

stated, the teacher and the students constitute together a pattern.

The teacher is in contact with a cosmic intention. That intention

informs him; he, in turn, relates the pupils with it by allowing

them to take a part in his activity. It is said to be for this reason

that teachers sometimes encourage one student, sometimes avoid

him: he is when he does this thought to be attaching the

student to the operation of the 'Greater Plan', and detaching

him from it when it is in a period of suspension. This emphasises

another important Central Asian dogma: that the operation of

the 'Great Plan' is cyclic and discontinuous. 'To continue

activity when the Great Plan is quiescent (for its own reasons)',

says Ahmed Yasavi, 'is harmful to the pupil. He must be told

this, otherwise he thinks that the teacher has abandoned him.'

ALI SULTAN has travelled and studied extensively

in Turkistan, Khorasan and India, publishing some

experiences in his English book And They Died.