‘I’m certain that people will say that the goals are differenent and they are, but the model is still the same: sacrifice oneself to the will of another human. Call me a rebellious Western Muslim, but I for one can’t accept returning to any bondage that negates the self to a human.’ OmarG said.
you do not have to be a Western Muslim to be rebellious to bondage exemplified by Sufis. If you read about how the Wahhabi movement developed, you would find that one of the mission of the movement was to rid Islam (in Arabia) of ‘dependence on awliya’ by redefining the relationship of a Muslim to God.

**********The individual is responsible to God [ONLY] for actions he/she takes.************

From my perspective, this is one contribution Wahhabis deserve much recognition and credit.

Putting all the obvious potential misuses of power aside, I think sheikhs fit into a system where the student is attempting to go beyond something. Typically this is the self. The impulses to love God because if I don’t something bad will happen. (This is all wicked general of course). This is perceived as wrong action (according to a Buddhist model) but it definitely has resonance in a sufi context. If I do something for a reward, or out of fear, or because I have a guikt complex, the assumption is that I am acting out of ego, AKA I am acting from my own base or whims and not in line with God’s actions. There is still a separation between God throwing the ball and me throwing the ball. Naturally going in to this realm of study or practice can be a bit tricky as it challenges the very basis of what we hold onto in this world. Ourselves. At least I have me. At least I am in control of this body. The sufi would question that. (Again, let’s put aside all discussions of free will for a moment).

My experience has been that due to the slippery nature of this type of practice (recognizing that you aren’t throwing the ball nor were you ever) the sheikh serves two purposes:

1. As something for the student to bump up against. A landing pad, a cushion for when you fall (loose your mind just a lil’ bit) you have someone there who’s been through it and can offer advice.

2. The sheickh is an opportunity to try, in a relatively safe environment, acting selflessly and for others. For some, taking the Prophet’s advice to help one’s neighbor, feed one’s neighbor, give alms to one’s neighbor is difficult when trying to do it for God’s purpose only. As in the rather Islamic idea of givin gto the poor without them knowing who gave. Otherwise known as giving without any egoic gain possible.

This is difficult. Working with a teacher or guide can help.

Of course there are the obvious traps in working with a teacher and being a teacher is also a practice, one that challenges all these tasks in a much more dangerous way. How can one teach another selflessly. But if you are not an easily manipulated worm, you’ll do just fine I suppose.

The ideal sheikh I suppose is one that can guide but not require you to obsess over them. This is the same as any teacher. Sheikhs just happen to be working on some very dangerous and enlightening materials. It’s not just math class.

Recently I have been much more interested in the possibility of the Prophetic Community, where people teacher and act as supports for one another, while still diving as deep into the unkonwn as possible.

Perhaps…

Yes, that was one of thier useful contributions, which is why I call myself a Salafi in worship…

Center said,
>>From my perspective, this is one contribution Wahhabis deserve much recognition and credit.

- A Salafi in worship, a Sufi in society, a Secularist in government.

with this heightened sense of individual responsibility, it is mighty convenient and appropriate to adopt secularism as a cognitive as well as behavioral orientation for stress free living.

You bring up an interesting comment. I don’t have an answer but its one doozy of a mind opener.