Observations placeholder
Mircea Eliade on Sufi flight
Identifier
007105
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
A description of the experience
Mircea Eliade – Shamanism Archaic techniques of ecstasy
Professor Kopruluzade cites the legend that Ahmed Yesevi and some of his dervishes could change into birds and so have power to fly. Similar legends were current concerning the Bektashite saints….. it is possible that these details are in fact due to influences from Turko-Mongol shamanism, as the learned Turkologist affirms. But ability to turn into a bird, is the common property of all kinds of shamanisms, not only the Turko-Mongol but also the Arctic, American, Indian and Oceanian.