'Human, Spirituality, and Healing Talks' Drawing Interest from Earthquake Region

The 'Human, Spirituality, and Healing Talks' event, organized in collaboration with Üsküdar University Institute of Sufi Studies and Kerim Foundation, is attracting great interest. The event, which aims to reach every segment of society, especially those working or living in the earthquake region or having relatives there, is seeing participation from nearly 100 people from the earthquake-affected area.  The program, which started on March 23 and will continue until June 8, consists of a 12-week talk series with a total of 42 sessions.

Prof. Dr. Elif Erhan: “We Aim to Reach Every Segment of Society”

Prof. Dr. Elif Erhan, Director of the Institute of Sufi Studies, provided information about the program, stating: “On February 6, 2023, our country experienced one of the greatest disasters in its history with two earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş, directly affecting 11 provinces. As a nation, we deeply share the pain of this great disaster. Given the severity, geographical extent, and affected population of the disaster, restoring normal living conditions in the region requires long-term plans, programs, and projects to be carried out collaboratively. Our nation has mobilized from all fronts, thankfully. Every institution, within the scope of its activities, is striving to further comprehend this profound human experience and contribute to the healing process. As Üsküdar University Institute of Sufi Studies, in collaboration with Kerim Foundation, we have prepared a program titled ‘Human, Spirituality, and Healing Talks,’ aiming to reach every segment of society, especially those working or living in the earthquake region or having relatives there. We received encouragement from our esteemed Founding Rector, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, for this initiative, and we extend our sincere thanks to him.”

Prof. Dr. Elif Erhan: “Nearly 100 of Our Participants Are from the Earthquake Region”

Erhan stated that the program will continue until June 8: “We have nearly 100 participants from our region covering the 11 provinces affected by the earthquake. We have also included our institute students in the program. We send direct Zoom links to these two groups, allowing participants to ask live questions. However, live participation is challenging as it coincides with daytime working hours, so it is mostly watched in the evenings. The program consists of a 12-week talk series, with a total of 42 sessions. It started on the first day of Ramadan and will continue until June 8. It is broadcast live every Thursday at 2:00 PM on the Üsküdar University YouTube channel. Those who cannot follow the program at its scheduled time can watch the talks anytime on the Üsküdar University YouTube channel. The content was meticulously prepared by our Institute's academic staff. Dr. Sema Süvarioğlu and Dr. Birsen Cangöz will contribute to the program as psychologists/clinical psychologists. They have direct earthquake experience and are conducting studies on the matter. Additionally, some breathing exercises will be introduced to participants; instructor Buket Harıkçı accepted our Institute's invitation for this, and we thank her very much. Our Institute Secretariat carried out dedicated work in establishing contact with those working and their families in the earthquake region and is also monitoring the program.”

“The Work Carried Out Is Restorative in Many Ways”

Emphasizing that the remote online work is restorative in many ways, Prof. Dr. Elif Erhan stated: “We have the opportunity to closely monitor the work in the region through our Institute's external stakeholders, Kerim Foundation, and our collaborating organizations; we participated in assessments and examinations in the region. In particular, since schools are closed in severely damaged areas, the Ministry of National Education has transferred hundreds of thousands of our children and young people to boarding schools. Many people, especially numerous families with middle and high school-aged children, have temporarily/permanently moved to other provinces. It is a challenging transition period. For this reason, remote online work is restorative in many ways.”

Prof. Dr. Reşat Öngören: “Our Main Goal Is to Reach Our People”

Prof. Dr. Reşat Öngören, a faculty member at the Institute of Sufi Studies, stated that the main goal of the program is to reach people. Öngören said: “Our main goal in this program, prepared due to the recent disasters, is to reach our people. Essentially, it is to approach humanity in all its aspects, referencing Sufism, which expresses the spiritual, inner dimension of Islam; to emphasize that humanity is not merely a physical being, drawing attention to its metaphysical dimension, and demonstrating how it can overcome difficulties with this structure. In this context, the 12-week program titles are as follows: 
‘The World: A Traveler’s Life in the Shade of a Tree’, ‘From Allah We Came, and to Allah We Return’, ‘Humanity with its Body and Needs’, ‘Humanity with its Soul: Allah's Vicegerent on Earth’, ‘How Can We Rest Our Souls?’, ‘Death: Waking from a Dream’, ‘Do We Own What We Possess?’, ‘Is Death the End?’, ‘Making Sense of Events’, ‘Our Perception of Destiny’, ‘Ethics of Responsibility’, ‘Our Prayers and Wishes’.”

Prof. Dr. Emine Yeniterzi: “We Analyze the Lessons at the Heart of the Stories”

Prof. Dr. Emine Yeniterzi, Assistant Director of Üsküdar University Institute of Sufi Studies and Head of the Department of Sufi Culture and Literature, highlighted that they analyze the lessons at the heart of the stories. Yeniterzi said: “Every week, the program includes a section titled ‘Stories for All Ages’. Under this title, we explore stories from religious, Sufi, and moral *mesnevis* in Turkish literature, covering virtues such as humility, generosity, knowledge, doing good, gratitude, repentance, reliance on God, contentment, patience, sincerity, love, and keeping one's word; vices like jealousy, arrogance, prejudice, slander, lying, doing evil, ignorance, hypocrisy; and general topics such as the value of time, death, and the transience of the world. After each story, we analyze the lessons at its heart.” 

F. Cangüzel Güner Zülfikar: “Ultimately, a Larger Picture Is Revealed”

Dr. Öğr. Üyesi F. Cangüzel Güner Zülfikar, Assistant Director of the Institute of Sufi Studies, stated that talks were prepared under three main headings. Zülfikar said: “We prepared talks under three headings, covering complementary topics, and ultimately, a larger picture is revealed. The call of spirituality to our present day and the search for potential healing through meaning; looking at today's sorrow with meaning, starting from the existence of a continually renewed state of rebirth with faith in Allah, the source of hope; what spirituality says about humanity and civilization on a universal scale; the fundamental phenomenon/phenomena that make a culture a civilization; and rebirth in building humanity and civilization. Our Institute students Tuğçe Yücebilgiç, Elif Titrek, and Sinem Hürmeydan also participated in the talks with their research and contributions.”

Dr. Öğr. H. Dilek Güldütuna: “We Talk About Exemplary Lives”

Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Hatice Dilek Güldütuna of the Institute of Sufi Studies, emphasizing the definite need for guidance on how to apply the knowledge from divine books to life, stated: “Throughout the program, we talk about ‘Exemplary Lives’. There is definitely a need for guidance on how to apply the knowledge found in divine books to life. Prophets, while establishing a connection with Allah and conveying His commands and prohibitions, also fulfilled the duty of being the best examples to people on this path. For this purpose, the stories of the prophets narrated in the Holy Quran contain great lessons and healing for hearts. Throughout the program, we discuss the stories of prophets and saints in this context.”

Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Omneya Ayad: “Focuses on How to Cope with the Pain of Loss”

Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Omneya Ayad, a faculty member at the Institute of Sufi Studies, touched upon the topic of how they try to explain how to regain comfort and peace in the heart, stating: “The lessons within the program focus on the central concept of understanding difficulties and how to cope with the pain of loss. We also try to explain how the bitter taste of trials can be transformed into a different dimension with contentment; how we can heal our hearts, and how to regain comfort and peace in the heart.”

Lecturer Sema Süvarioğlu: “We Will Try to Obtain Tips”

Lecturer Sema Süvarioğlu, a faculty member at the Institute of Sufi Studies, stated that they will work together to obtain tips for leading a more meaningful life. Süvarioğlu said: “We will endeavor to help individuals directly and indirectly affected by the recent earthquake in our country cope with the intense stress they experienced; to examine concepts of stress/trauma/crisis closely, understand the mechanisms at play in our bodies; and to gain awareness, knowledge, and practical tools and methods to be shared, all with the aim of increasing our emotional and mental resilience and leading a more meaningful life.”

Dr. Birsen Cangöz: “Spirituality Is Like a Medicine in Our First-Aid Kit for Difficult Times”

Dr. Birsen Cangöz, pointing out that the secrets of happiness are often hidden, stated: “Throughout life, people wish to live happily, healthily, and peacefully. All their efforts are directed towards this. However, life is not that easy and does not proceed in a straight line. The secrets of happiness are often hidden. The paths are stony, thorny, and full of pain. Even though the Creator says, ‘My Beauty is hidden in My Majesty,’ discovering and understanding this is not that simple for us. Spirituality, if we can understand it correctly, is like a medicine in our first-aid kit for difficult times. It heals us; it gives strength. As someone who was trapped under the rubble in the 1999 Earthquake, in this training program I participated in to share my personal experiences, thoughts on the subject, and what I went through, I wish to point out the hidden and overt miracles of the earthquake and make a small contribution, first for the earthquake victims, and then for other members of society.”
Those who cannot follow the program at its scheduled time will be able to watch the YouTube videos on the Üsküdar University YouTube page.
HUMAN, SPIRITUALITY, AND HEALING TALKS: