Conversation (Muhabbet) in Alevi-Bektashi Tradition: an Atmosphere of Spiritual Knowledge

Abstract

The atmosphere of explanaining and transmissing knowledge of the Alevi-Bektashi order, which come from a rich oral culture, are conversations (muhabbet). Conversations are the atmosphere itself whereby spiritual knowledge is conveyed, some poetry texts with a symbolic structure are constructed, explained and transmitted. In this sense, conversations are constituted by the participation of individuals. Active participation in conversaitons allows people to experience spirituality as well as the sense of unity. This leads to the fulfillment of many functions, individual or social, which are related to the area of spirituality. In this research, written records as well as the data obtained from the interviews with people who have been to these conversations are analyzed. In this article, first, the atmosphere of the conversations in the Alevi-Bektashi order is defined, second, it is argued that conversations constitute the spiritual dimension of the tradition; and lastly conversations are argued to form the cultural environment by which spirituality is disseminated.