The Whirling-Dervish is a form of Sufi dance that originated in the 13th century in Turkey. The dance is a physical expression of the Sufi belief in the unity of all things and the pursuit of spiritual enlightenment.
During the dance, the Dervish, who is dressed in a long white robe and a tall hat, spins in a circular motion, with one hand pointed upwards towards heaven and the other hand pointed downwards towards the earth. The spinning motion represents the movement of the universe and the dervishs pursuit of spirituality and connection with the divine.
The Whirling-Dervish is not just a physical dance, but also a form of meditation and mindfulness. The dervish seeks to quiet his mind and let go of the ego, allowing himself to become one with the universe and the divine.
The dance of the Whirling-Dervish can be seen as a metaphor for the Buddhist concept of emptiness, where the self is seen as an illusion and existence is seen as interconnected and impermanent. The spinning dervish represents the impermanence and interconnectedness of all things, and the pursuit of spiritual enlightenment is seen as a way to let go of attachment to the ego and the illusion of permanence.
In summary, the Whirling-Dervish dance is a physical expression of the Sufi belief in unity with the divine, and can be seen as a metaphor for the Buddhist concept of emptiness and impermanence.