Sufism

I watched an interesting documentary this week called Inside the Koran. It focused on the constant struggle between Sunni and Shia Islam and the subsequent bloodshed and religious turmoil that plagues a large population of the Islamic world. I understand the concepts of each religious sector and although the backbone of the documentary focused chiefly on holy disparity, a different branch of Islam called Sufism peaked my attention. I have heard of this mystical dimension of Islam but never educated myself on its fundamentals. It is characterized by embracing life as it is today rather than only achieving paradise when one succumbs to death. They seek to restore themselves, which in turn pleases G-d. Acts such as lowering the ego, poetry and expressive dance are key components in this area of Islam. We do not hear a great deal about Sufism due to the carnage between Sunni and Shia. Sufism sure is captivating in its own right.