Dervishes' Sema Rites Poem by Dr. Madan Gandhi

To reach the source of all perfection
must you abandon your ego
all your personal desires

Listen to the interior music
flowing from the heart’s flute
to focus soulfully on God

Spin your body in repetitive circles
as planets whirl orbiting the sun
in a solar system

The semazen's camel's hair hat
but the tombstone of the ego;
wide, white skirt represents the ego's shroud

By removing black cloak
spiritually reborn to the truth
sans ego-driven desires

As Sema rites of ecstatic dance begin
the semazen appears holding his arms crosswise
to represent the number one, testifying to God's unity

While whirling, his arms are open:
his right arm is directed to the sky
ready to receive God's beneficence

His left hand
on which his eyes are fastened
is turned toward the earth

The semazen conveys God's spiritual gift
to those who are witnessing the Sema
fills them with divine benediction

Revolving from right to left
around the heart
semazen embraces all humanity with love

All beings have been created with Love
in order to love.
They are a bridge to Love Divine.
(Yayati)