What is the difference between a Sufi in ecstasy and a Christian under the influence of the Holy Spirit?

Exactly. The difference between a Sufi in ecstasy, and a Christian under the influence of the Holy Spirit is that the Sufi believes in a mystical form of Islam, and the Christian is affiliated with whatever denomination of Christianity they are affiliated with. That is all the difference there is in their experience. The ecstatic spiritual experience comes from the same Source. (As do we all). The experience may differ in some of the perceived details, but that would be in the mind of the one having the experience. The Source of the experiences is immutably One.

Peace and Namaste!

*Just to set the record straight: One does not have to be a dervish to be Sufi.

Sufi is universal.

~~~~~

Back to the question...

Is there a difference? Lets take a close look!

Lets examine the two completely distinct states of awareness:

1. Sufi 'in' ecstasy.....key word being 'in'

2.Christian 'under the influence' of the Holy Spirit.....key words being 'under the influence'

Please put on your thinking cap...'in' vs 'under the influence'

'in' is a permanent state / 'under the influence' is a temporary state

"God is within man/man is within God"

This is the state that man must make permanent.

Peace be always with you.

in sha'Allah

Salaams,

The Sufi Dervishes dance better.

Whirling around as a Dervish affects blood flow, causing more physical excitement than just kneeling there fingering rosary beads.

No difference. It comes from the same source. Labels cage, confine and limit,

one is real and the other is false.