Secrecy (Sır) in Alevism, Numerical Symbolism, Kalu Bela, Alevi Philosophy, Truth (Hakikat), and Alevi Ethics – Pir Haydar Buğa
In this video, Pir Haydar Buğa offers a comprehensive discussion of the concept of Sır, which occupies a central position in Alevism, and uses this concept to explain the ethical, cosmological, and philosophical foundations of the Alevi belief world. He emphasizes that Alevism does not operate with notions of heaven and hell; instead, Alevis advance toward truth through cycles of devriye, and religious practice is structured within this cyclical understanding.
In the narrative, Sır is approached not merely as hidden or secret knowledge, but as a foundational concept that carries Alevi ethics, belief dynamics, cosmology, and collective memory. Pir Haydar Boğa explains the intergenerational transmission of Alevi social knowledge, the relationship between belief and everyday life, and the continuity of the Alevi world of meaning through the framework of Sır.
One of the key themes of the video is the teaching of the Four Gates and Forty Stations. The Pir discusses in detail how this teaching structures moral, intellectual, and social maturation along the Alevi path. In this context, numerical symbols such as the 3s, 5s, 7s, 12s, 14s, and 17s are addressed, and their layered meanings within Alevi cosmology and the belief system are explained.
Pir Haydar Buğa also examines the four elements—fire, air, water, and earth—referred to as çar anasır, within this doctrinal framework. He emphasizes that these elements function as fundamental building blocks symbolizing existence, balance, and transformation in Alevi cosmology, and that the relationship between humans, nature, and Hakikat can be understood through them.
In this respect, the video approaches Alevi philosophy, cosmological structure, and core belief principles in a holistic manner centered on the concept of Sır. It renders visible the Alevi path’s worldview, understanding of truth, and ethical stance through a nuanced narrative. Offering highly significant oral history and ethnographic insights, this recording constitutes a strong source for understanding Alevi religious thought.
This recording was made on 6–7 December 2025 at the CAN TV studios in Cologne, Germany, as part of the Alevi Encyclopedia’s oral history and visual archive project, within the “From the Words of the Path’s Guides” series.
In the narrative, Sır is approached not merely as hidden or secret knowledge, but as a foundational concept that carries Alevi ethics, belief dynamics, cosmology, and collective memory. Pir Haydar Boğa explains the intergenerational transmission of Alevi social knowledge, the relationship between belief and everyday life, and the continuity of the Alevi world of meaning through the framework of Sır.
One of the key themes of the video is the teaching of the Four Gates and Forty Stations. The Pir discusses in detail how this teaching structures moral, intellectual, and social maturation along the Alevi path. In this context, numerical symbols such as the 3s, 5s, 7s, 12s, 14s, and 17s are addressed, and their layered meanings within Alevi cosmology and the belief system are explained.
Pir Haydar Buğa also examines the four elements—fire, air, water, and earth—referred to as çar anasır, within this doctrinal framework. He emphasizes that these elements function as fundamental building blocks symbolizing existence, balance, and transformation in Alevi cosmology, and that the relationship between humans, nature, and Hakikat can be understood through them.
In this respect, the video approaches Alevi philosophy, cosmological structure, and core belief principles in a holistic manner centered on the concept of Sır. It renders visible the Alevi path’s worldview, understanding of truth, and ethical stance through a nuanced narrative. Offering highly significant oral history and ethnographic insights, this recording constitutes a strong source for understanding Alevi religious thought.
This recording was made on 6–7 December 2025 at the CAN TV studios in Cologne, Germany, as part of the Alevi Encyclopedia’s oral history and visual archive project, within the “From the Words of the Path’s Guides” series.
Interviewer
- Ahmet Kerim Gültekin
