The meaning of life in sûfîs: A comparative research with non-sûfîs

The general aim of this research is to measure the meaning-purpose level of life in sûfîs and compare it with non-sûfîs. The aim is to contribute to the literature and fill in gaps found in this context. The study group of this correlative patterned research included a total of 264 people between the ages of 18-65. The research sample included participants from all over Turkey, with the majority being from Istanbul or Izmir. 131 participants were sûfîs and 133 were non-sûfîs. A survey technique was used for the study using the "Ok-Religious Attitude Scale and Tension in Belief Scale" to measure the religious attitudes and contradictions of the participants, the "Meaning-Purpose Short Form and The Purpose In Life Scale " to measure meaning-purpose levels, the "Happiness Scale and Pessimism Scale" to measure happiness and optimism, and the "Francis Louden Mystical Orientation Scale" to measure the level of mystical Experience. When the research data are analyzed, it is seen that there are statistically significant differences in the meaning-purpose, religiosity, mental health (happiness and optimism) and mystical experience levels of sûfî and non-sûfî. Accordingly, it was concluded that the sûfîs had a significantly higher level of meaning-purpose, religiosity, happiness, optimism and mystical experience than non-sûfîs. Keywords: Meaning-purpose, the meaning of life, mystical experience, sûfî, sufism, sufistic experience