According to the textbook, “the Mevlevi are a sub-order of Sufism, the mystical branch of Islam.” (315). This branch of Islam has many orders in which they all have their own rites. However, they all believe in the same universal God with whom it is possible to experience a direct spiritual union. They achieve this through meditation and contemplation. The role that music plays in the Sema ceremony, within the Mevlevi order, is that it is used to reach a higher level of spirituality. In the textbook, it says that their attire and their actions “reflect the ideal surrendering one’s individual identity to the all-encompassing universalism of God.” (316). In this ceremony, there are many body movements, and they all represent a way that they try to connect to God spiritually. For instance, when the samazan enters the performance, they have their arms crossed and hands on shoulders. This represents being united with God. Then they start to spin counter-clockwise, with arms open outwards. The right palm is turned up, to represent receiving blessings from God, while the left palm is turned down, to represent the transition of the power into the earth. During the ceremony, they read scriptures from the Quran and pray. After the ceremony, the samazan returns to their chambers to meditate.

The Mevlevi order is similar to Buddhist chants. This is because just like the samazan’s, Buddhist chants are also from religious scriptures that help them to connect to God on a higher spiritual level. Monks chant verses to memorize and meditate upon the Buddha’s teachings, to center their minds, and to sublimate improper desire. Similarly, the samazan performs the Sama to rid themselves of their ego and reach perfection. To add on, both of these religions are not focused on making music that are exciting, but serious music that helps them to reach their goal.