Product Description
The Naqshbandi Sufi Way explores the origins and history of the Naqshbandi Sufi order. Through the exploration of the lives of the 40 Masters of the Naqshbandi Order, the reader is taken on a spiritual journey deep into the self. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Excellent Read
This is the first book I've purchased online and I must say it's the best book I've ever read! The stories are amazing and superbly arranged. Amazing author!

People living for God
This book by Muhammad Hisham Kabbani give so much background on the tariqat and deep dive into the lives of saints of Naqshabandi sufi way.Book motivated and affected me deeply and my way of looking life changed and I have much peace than what I had before.My Allah sanctify the secrets of Mawlana Sheikh Hisham Kabanni.

Secrets of the Divine Path Unveiled
Secrets Upon Secrets: Sh. Nazim description of one of many unveilings "He prayed the Dawn Prayer and I prayed behind him. Outside I could hear the bombardment of the two armies. He gave me initiation in the Naqshbandi Order and he said to me, 'O my son, we have power that in one second we can make our murid reach his station.

As soon as he said that he looked into my heart with his eyes, and as he did so they turned from yellow to red, then to white, then to green and black. The color of his eyes changed as he poured into my heart the knowledge associated with each color.

What are the Nine points , What are the Colors, Who are the Saints in Charge of Those Points, Meditations Practices etc..all inside this masterpiece
For More Secrets you have to buy the book !

Wonderful guide to the great Naqshbandi Sufi Order
This book by Shaykh Hisham is a wonderfully produced and poetic work, beautifully presented, about the Most High Naqshbandiyya Order of Sufis. It gives detailed biographies--not available elsewhere in English--of some of the greatest Muslim saints who were part of this chain. Also, as the Naqshbandiyya Order is uniform up to Hazrat Muhammad Mas'um (May Allah sanctify his secret!) in the names of its Masters, only then splitting up into different sub-orders, this is a good history book also of the Naqshbandiyya in general and of the Naqshbandiyya-Khalidiyya in particular. Beautiful!!

Authentic voice of the way that leads to God
This is a miracle. Words cannot express the praise of this book. It needs a soft and pure heart to be appreciated in its full strength. The honorable Shaikh Hisham Kabbani has done the impossible. He captured the divinerealizations of the pure hearts in words of ink. Therefore the heart ofreader shall smell the divine fragrance of the pure hearts an will beilluminated and decorated with heavenly buties ... Read more

Product Description
"An ambitious attempt to fill a long-standing lacuna in the history of Jewish thought by presenting a synthesis and evaluation of Bahya in his intellectual context. It draws on over a century of scholarship, suggests some new sources for Bahya and new readings of old sources, and offers an interpretation of his thought."--Charles H. Manekin, University of Maryland

"This manuscript contains a subtle, probing, and rich exposition of the key issue of devotional self-examination within Jewish and Islamic mysticism. The author has a superb sense of Arabic, Sufi mystical psychology, and the extraordinary dialogue (sometimes openly acknowledged, often left unacknowledged) among Jewish, Islamic, Christian, and Greek traditions at the time of Ibn Paquda."--Michael Sells, University of Chicago

Written in Judeo-Arabic in eleventh-century Muslim Spain but quickly translated into Hebrew, Bahya Ibn Paquda's Duties of the Heart is a profound guidebook of Jewish spirituality that has enjoyed tremendous popularity and influence to the present day. Readers who know the book primarily in its Hebrew version have likely lost sight of the work's original Arabic context and its immersion in Islamic mystical literature. In A Sufi-Jewish Dialogue, Diana Lobel explores the full extent to which Duties of the Heart marks the flowering of the "Jewish-Arab symbiosis," the interpenetration of Islamic and Jewish civilizations.

Lobel reveals Bahya as a maverick who integrates abstract negative theology, devotion to the inner life, and an intimate relationship with a personal God. Bahya emerges from her analysis as a figure so steeped in Islamic traditions that an Arabic reader could easily think he was a Muslim, yet the traditional Jewish seeker has always looked to him as a fountainhead of Jewish devotion. Indeed, Bahya represents a genuine bridge between religious cultures. He brings together, as well, a rationalist, philosophical approach and a strain of Sufi mysticism, paving the way for the integration of philosophy and spirituality in the thought of Moses Maimonides.

A Sufi-Jewish Dialogue is the first scholarly book in English about a tremendously influential work of medieval Jewish thought and will be of interest to readers working in comparative literature, philosophy, and religious studies, particularly as reflected in the interplay of the civilizations of the Middle East. Readers will discover an extraordinary time when Jewish, Christian, and Islamic thinkers participated in a common spiritual quest, across traditions and cultural boundaries.

Diana Lobel is Associate Professor of Religion at Boston University. She is the author of Between Mysticism and Philosophy: Sufi Language of Religious Experience in Judah Ha-Levi's Kuzari.

... Read more

Product Description
The three previously untranslated works presented here originate from the pens of two of the most eminent figures of the Khorasanian tradition, Hakim Tirmidhi (d. 912) and Abu 'Abd al-Rahman al-Sulami al-Naysaburi (d. 412/1021), and affirm the existence of an already highly developed school of Sufi psychology that provided the foundation for the transformational process referred to within multiple spiritual traditions as the "spiritual journey."

In A Treatise on the Heart, Tirmidhi portrays the multi-faceted intricacies of the soul, using a vocabulary that demonstrates the originality of the science of the soul within the Islamic context. In Stations of the Righteous, al-Sulami deals with the inherently defective nature of the soul and delineates the path it must travel towards purification and the roles it assumes on its journey. In Stumblings of Those Aspiring, al-Sulami shares how best to manage the itinerary and avoid the pitfalls and obstacles of this journey.

These three works are relevant within the domains of human spirituality and psychology for both specialists and non-specialists. They offer some of the earliest and most concise examples of Sufi methodology to appear in translation. They are of conceptual as well as historical relevance to those committed to the study of psychology as the science of the human soul and its states. They also hold up a mirror, at once timeless and personal, of our own human nature. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Very clear and succinct.
This book is absolutely phenomenal! It was recommended to me by my Shaykh and I'm sure glad I took his advice. The first text on the heart is a very comprehensive explanation of it's different spheres, and how things like outward knowledge or even gnosis affect it and in which parts. After reading this you can literally visualize the heart as a system. The ability to easily convey the abstract is rare, especially in our age with so many psuedo sufis talking about "the secret," without even an outward understanding of it as a concept (may Allah give us a total experiential understanding of that concept!)

Additionally I would like to note that some people may be turned off from the title (the word sufi is controversial these days), but this is a basic knowledge that would be useful for anyone and everyone. Imam Ghazali said that though some people may be able to discuss very intricate points of law, they don't even know how to remove the doubt of their Lord from their hearts. Both the law, which is knowledge, and the heart, which is the wisdom from the knowledge are needed.

Honestly I haven't read the last two of the three texts in the book, and I will write another review when I have, but for the first alone it is worth it! ... Read more

Product Description
Islam means, literally, submission to the compassionate will of God. How could it have come to signify something so altogether different in the world today? It becomes clear throughout Islam and World Peace that the original Islam being spoken of by Bawa Muhaiyaddeen is as different from the news headlines as were the teachings of Saint Francis from the Inquisition. We think you will find this perspective both refreshing and thought provoking. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Taqiyya?
I would like to make a correction to Objective Reader's review, entitled "a Taqiyya fest", specifically his unenlightened definition of Taqiyya. Taqiyya refers specifically to the idea of guarding oneself against persecution by masquing or hiding one's religious beliefs. This 'guarding against' is generally performed in an environment of religious persecution, and historically refers to the Shia and, more specifically, the Ismailis, and their attempts to hold onto their beliefs in a predominantly Sunni muslim environment. Taqiyya has thus nothing to do with hiding the 'secret agenda' of Islam from the West.
Indeed, it is extremely bigoted to speak of 'Islam' as a monolithic entity interested in hiding its true, overarching secret agenda from Western 'infidels'. Such a right-wing conspiracy theorist approach to Islam gives no consideration to the actual diversity and multiplicitiy of differing sects, ideas and theologies within Islam. Need it be said that Sufism-the central feature of the book in question-has historically proven antagonistic to those more literal and 'fundamentalist' understandings of Islam (and are actively admonished by a number of Islamic fundamentalist groups). Thus, read Islam and World Peace not from the blinkered and bigoted perspective of that advocated by Objective Reader, but from an understanding of the diversity of Islam and its independent expression of a genuine desire for peace.

A Taqiyya Fest
Taqiyya is the Islamic doctrine of deceiving non-Muslims about the true nature of Islam. This book will misguide non-Muslims.
For the truth about Islam, read the following books:
[1] "The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam" by Robert Spencer
[2] "Religion of Peace? Islam's War Against the World" by David Gregory
[3] "Understanding Muhammad: A Psychobiography" by Ali Sina

Also visit these websites:
[...]
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how can he speak for islamic peace
the book was written before 911, the great watershed yr. in islamic history.

also he was a sufi.they are the mystics of islam & imo the least objectionable of muslims.many of their number were killed by mainstream muslims for getting too cozy w. allah.i think especially of al hallaj one of the baghdad mystics

its more appropriate to write of islamic pieces than peace

The true words of any religion
this book not only explains the true beauty of Islam, it proves that all religions are the same and beautiful and important. that all of the religions gods are really ONE GOD. this isperfect for someone who doesn't understand Islam. this is perfect for someone who loves learning about religions and is trying to find a realiable source to accompany the Q'uran. This is a perfect gift for someone who has lost touch with faith altogether, has anger or a skewed vision of Islam and so forth. it is AWESOME. READ IT.

An Eye Opener
I never understood the true meaning and beliefs of Islam until I opened the pages of this book.Whether you are Islamic, Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu or whatever your belief, this should be a book on your "to read" list. It talks of faith, love and a deeper vision into our lives.Bawa explains an Islam of untiy, not one of destruction.I have never tried to sell a book in my life, but I will now.Buy this one!! ... Read more

Product Description
Titus Burckhardt's masterpiece, Introduction to Sufi Doctrine, explores the essence of Islamic mysticism, or Sufism, presenting its central doctrines and methods to a Western audience in a highly intelligible form. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Introduction to Sufi Doctrine
"This work is a quintessential resource for traditional Sufi studies as it crystallizes the very substance and essence of the Sufi path, perhaps as astutely as any theoretical presentation could provide outside formal participation in a tariqah (path or way). The path symbolized by a radius traveling from the periphery of a circle to its center illustrates the unanimity of all spiritual paths affirming the Sufi saying: 'The ways (turuq) towards God are as numerous as the souls [nafas] of men' (p.114) It is those Sufis who realize themselves through knowledge, such as Muhyi-d-Din ibn `Arabi, al-Shaykh al-Akbar (The Greatest Master), who exemplify the religion of the heart, which this work reflects unequivocally."

-Journal of the Muhyiddin Ibn 'Arabi Society, Vol. 44, 2008 ... Read more

Product Description
Chinese Gleams of Sufi Light investigates, for the first time in a Western language, the manner in which the Muslim scholars of China adapted the Chinese tradition to their own needs during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The book surveys the 1400-year history of Islam in China and explores why the four books translated from Islamic languages into Chinese before the twentieth century were all Persian Sufi texts. The author also looks carefully at the two most important Muslim authors of books in the Chinese language, Wang Tai-yu and Liu Chih. Murata shows how they assimilated Confucian social teachings and Neo-Confucian metaphysics, as well as Buddhism and Taoism, into Islamic thought. She presents full translations of Wang's Great Learning of the Pure and Real--a text on the principles of Islam--and Liu Chih's Displaying the Concealment of the Real Realm, which in turn is a translation from Persian of Lawa'ih', a famous Sufi text by Jami. A new translation of Jami's Lawa'ih' from the Persian by William C. Chittick is juxtaposed with Liu Chih's work, revealing the latter's techniques in adapting the text to the Chinese language and Chinese thought. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Exellent study of Chinese Sufism
Wonderful study of this little known corner of the Islamic world.First the author covers the history of Islam in china and the development of a Chinsese/Islamic identity that was completely unique both to Islam and to the Chinese world around them.

Secondly a study of Chinese Sufi text and translation.A wonderful work which examines how Islam was understood by Chinese Muslims and how it was practiced.

First book of its kind
An original work that fills an unknown gap of Islam in China. Excellent,also includes a translation of Jami's Lawaih. ... Read more

Product Description
In response to the many inquiries he has received about the Sufi tradition, leading Sufi expert Idries Shah presents a clarifying series of questions and answers that illustrates how traditional Sufi concepts can resolve our social, psychological, and spiritual problems. This is the ideal introduction to Sufi wisdom. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

Charlatanism - like another reviewer said.
There is no spiritual content in this book. No methods are discussed or given for interfacing more purely with oneself or the world.

Instead, there is a circular, noisome discussion of the external trappings of Sufic philosophy and practice - most of it describing the fallibility of students, the inability to learn properly from teachers, the inadequacy of other non-Sufic traditions and schools, and the hopelessness of 99% of spiritual efforts. It is written in a discouraging, judgmental and even castigating tone which appears to me to be at odds with the doctrines of compassion and generosity which usually inform 'higher' studies. Several of Shah's other books also fit this rubric, which leave open the question: "What does this man know about higher matters, after all?"

This book is suggesting, mostly through parables, that the student or Seeker submit themselves to what would ultimately be an authoritarian spiritual practice around a school or teacher - and that only a chosen few are able to act as teachers, most notably, the author himself.

As another criticism I will say that the author uses parables at least as often to prevent himself from clearly having to explicate what he means, as he uses it as a vehicle for conveying higher knowledge. Many of the parables chosen in response to questions are easy for him, meaning they allow him to reframe the question in a way that invalidates the valid core of criticism implicit in the question.

From beginning to end this book is a tome of 'haterism' and judgment, which I will paraphrase in the following sentence: "Only a few know the ways of Sufism, most think they know but do not, (implicit) I do know the ways, it will be difficult for you to know the ways of Sufism, read these 100 parables about how people have misunderstood Sufism, and by the way, never presume you know anything about Sufism." It would be acceptable if there were some higher goal in view, but nothing higher is ever discussed.

Weak minds and people lacking discernment will fall for this.

Not a good representation of Sufism
I found this book very annoying. Shah essentially says, "If you have to read this, it's because you haven't been paying attention to everything else I've already said. Besides, you can't learn anything by reading." I eventually agreed, at least that I wasn't going to learn anything by reading THIS.

OK, there are a few nuggets of wisdom here, essentially trying to get the reader to step outside of your usual way of thinking. Not worth reading a whole book for, particularly when it is written in such a highly condescending tone. Shah wastes no opportunity to put the reader down and expound on his own greatness. This is nothing like the heart-opening Sufism I know and was seeking.

very reccomended !! open your mind
this book was reccomended to me by a good freind and as he said it contains a new point of view of life and how we sould look as it.
a truely must have book

Looking to form a critic review group on Idries Shah'sand related works?
Although it's been nearly 4 years since having read this book, I cannot get it out of my mind & heart.I am looking for the opportunity to network with people - mainly with regard to Idries Shah's works and possibly other related interests. (...)
Nathan

Let's face it
How long are we going to delude ourselves with that kind of message ? From the very beginning of the book a doubtful story about rabbis let us in the tune with what we'll have to accept if we are to get the "master"'s approval. Of course each and every of our suffering is supposed to be a proof of our "foolishness". So if you follow this reasoning : every one who's suffering does deserve it. Killed children deserve it ? Raped women deserved it ? Humiliated, exploited, tortured men DESERVE IT ? The answer is yours. ... Read more

Product Description

Since the eighteenth century, adherence to Sufism, the mystical tradition of Islam, has been associated with membership in one of the Sufi brotherhoods. These brotherhoods constitute distinct religious communities within the general community of Islam. Jamil M. Abun-Nasr describes them as "communities of grace" because his readings in Sufi hagiographies have convinced him that divine grace is the central element of their system of beliefs.

In his reconstruction of the development of the Sufi tradition, Abun-Nasr examines the emergence of Sufism's central tenets and the factors that account for their appeal to Muslims in different lands. Drawing on original Sufi sources, he contends that, in their formative period, Sufi tenets were shaped by the caliphs' inability to live up to the ideal the Prophet represented in the Muslim community: that political leadership was a subordinate function of religious guidance. He also contends that the Sufi brotherhoods' form of religious communalism emerged from the adaptation of the spiritual authority that Sufis ascribed to their leaders to the Muslims' major pious concerns. In the last two chapters Abun-Nasr examines the reaction of the Sufi brotherhoods' shaykhs to European colonial rule, the campaign directed against them by Muslim reformers of the Salafiyya school, and the reliance of the independent Muslim states' rulers on their support in counteracting the hostility of the Muslim reformers, as well as, since the 1970s, the Islamists, to their secular development plans.

Product Description
Irina Tweedie's unique account of the slow and painful grinding down of the personality at the hands of a Sufi Master. This diary spans five years, making up an amazing record of spiritual transformation. From a psychological perspective, this diary maps the process of ego dissolution, gradually unveiling the oneness and love that reside beneath the surface of the personality. Mrs. Tweedie is the first Western woman to be trained in this ancient yogic lineage. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Deep
Full of fire. Sure not for the light hearted seeker. Helpful to all those that feel challenged in similar ways. As it is autobiographic and personal, readers will find themselves in the book 100% or be turned off by her struggles. I benefited much by reading it. Although lengthy at times, it is honest and straight forward.

So what I've been waiting for
I heard about this book 2 years ago and couldn't find the book at Barnes and Noble and came to Amazon.I love this book.It's huge, and gives the info I need to know, about an experience that is so personal and vital.

Thank you Amazon for having this book!!

daughter of fire
I read the book...I understand that the author did not have any informations in the beginning as what the Sufi system was. But this diary was written for the author not the reader.In order to write a book for the outside world ( was it?),more informations about the Sufi system should have been given, even if not in details as I agree...some privacy should be onored. BUT
It seems to me that the book is a countinuous lament about the pain the author felt during her training.Yes pain IS part of the process but the again continuous'repetition' of words and facts are useless and almost annoying.
Finally part 2 is much better.

TRUTH CAN BE PAINFUL
I strongly disagree with the reviewer that says this is spiritual abuse.What a small price Irina paid for her enlightenment.Her Guru's ignoring Irina and a few times appearing sharp with her are a small price to pay.If I could find a Shaikh like this who would help me, I would be overjoyed (eternally).This is a book I will read for the rest of my life.Thank you Irina

Review Interview
The original version of the book was shortened by the publisher as it was considered too long. This is why there are two books: the shorter, first published The Chasm of Fire (1979), and this one, more complete Daughter of Fire (1986).

Irina Tweedie's story takes the mystery out of a Sufi master and pupil situation and tells what love is like in practice.

Reijo: How was it possible for Irina Tweedie to go to India and stay about one and a half years with a teacher, who totally rejected her and whose family also showed her their rejection?

Agnes: Love is not simply being lovely! I am not talking about love in personal relationships. The love of Guruji towards Irina Tweedie was impersonal, what you (as a Gurdjieffian) would call "Conscious Love". Impersonal is not the right word in the sense that this love comes to you through a person and his/her personal expressions. It leads to the source of love in yourself.

Reshad Feild: "Do not look for love - look for the source of love!" A teacher leads the pupil to the source and that is what Irina Tweedie experienced.

Reijo: How about Irina then? She was 52, totally rejected, gave away all she had - how could she go on?

Agnes: A teacher holds the pupil and nourishes the intention. Irina's intention was to find the truth. This clear intention was the hook where she was hanging. This would not have been possible without a total commitment, unconditional and demanded by the teacher. For her there was no way to go back.

Her story reminds me of Odysseus, who let himself be tied to the mast of a ship and in full senses went through the temptations. To quote Reshad again: "Come with both hands, not one hand behind your back."

Reijo: What you are saying is that Guruji was totally in control of the situation?

Agnes: No, what was happening to Irina was not in his control. He was connected to a place in himself and through that he received an impulse of what to do in the various situations. To be conscious does not mean that we have life under control.

Reijo: In other words, because he was "present" he could influence the situation.

Agnes: Not only that. He was, and a teacher is, connected with the creation that takes place every moment new. He could get the fresh impulse that is needed out of the present moment and DO what is necessary.

Reijo: Yet there was to my disappointment no final exchange between Irina Tweedie and Guruji about the method. He never told clearly what he was doing with her.

Agnes: In my view what he said could not have been stated in a clearer way! He gave her the essence of the teaching; everything else came to Irina through her experiences and through her understanding of them. She was prepared to find her own method, which was needed in London and not in India, in her time, in her place in Europe.

The essence of the teaching can only be understood through experience. The method can be copied, but the ability can only grow in oneself.

A real teacher lets the ability to grow and does not allow the pupil to become a copy.

Reijo: In any spiritual way there are three main stages: identity, direction and commitment. Irina found her identity to be nothing, her direction was her intention towards the truth and her commitment was without any conditions. It sound hard!

Agnes: But she had an insurance: a spider's thread coming out of the blue sky to which she could hang on to!

Her book is about the way to the source of love. On my way I experienced the pure love of a teacher clearest and strongest when Reshad Feild was shouting to me in front of a group of 80 people. I don't know what he shouted about, but I remember the strong, pure love. Nobody understood why I kept coming back to him and looked him up as he only immediately started to shout again.


... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (2)

Inspiring, Informative, Exciting
I got the tip to read this book from a friend. I learned yesterday that another friend of mine had bought it the same day. Is this a coincidence?

The book is an autobiography over the life of Kudsi Erguner, who was born into a Sufi music family. There is a CD attached to inside the back cover of the book containing many historic performances of this music, mainly performed by the father and grandfather of the writer, but also by himself and some others.

I became quite sad (this sadness is a form of self-pity and should not be taken too seriously) when I saw that Kudsi Erguner had made his first trip to London in 1971, the year I left London back to Finland - I missed the performances he made then with his father and other Turkish musicians.

What impressed me particularly in the book were:
- the history of the Mevlevi organisation in Konya
- the contact with the Gurdjieff organisations and
- the article on the reed flute, ney, in the Mevlevi tradition

The History of the Mevlevi Organisation in Konya


Quote, as a taster: "Celaleddin Celebi, thirty-second descendant of Rumi, was called upon, as it was thought that he could save the situation: his lineage justified his holiness." and "Celebi tried to make Rumi known again not as a Sufi but, as he called himself, a humanist."

I have only once seen a Celebi family member, in a Sema in Zürich a couple of years ago - he certainly did not make an impression that he would have been a Sufi master. It starts to look like the old story: do not believe anything, you must verify it, as Mr. Gurdjieff used to say.

This brings up another subject about Sufism in particular in the Middle East (other areas are a different case). Kudsi Erguner writes about the first visits to Paris and London where the Turkish musicians came in contact with the Institut Gurdjieff in Paris and the Gurdjieff Society in London.

Quote: "We were welcomed with open arms by members of the Gurdjieff groups, as well as by another group originating with P. D. Ouspensky, which met in a large building called Colet House. Their leader was a Dr. Roles."

Colet House was were Ouspensky had many of his meetings; Dr. Roles was his secretary.

What I mean by "my excitement" about what Kudsi writes is connected with "another co-incidence": that Mr. Gurdjieff arrived in Europe and started teaching here at a time when the Sufis in Turkey were heading for the hard times. Mr. Gurdjieff brough to the West the oral teachings of the Sufis and also the tradition of the Startzi of the Orthodox Church at a time when both of these had to go underground in the countries where they were active; Turkey and Russia from the actions of their respective governments.

I can well understand Kudsi Erguner when he tells how surprised he was to see that the tradition of his own country was denied and hardly existing and he found this traditiion, or at least a very similar one, in Paris and London in the Gurdjieff groups.

This book is a must for all serious students of both Sufism and the teachings of Mr. Gurdjieff.

Great book about a real Sufi during the founding of modern Turkey
If you're interested in Sufi music and how the founding of the modern Turkish Republic repressed Sufi, the effects it had on the music and culture, etc., this is the book for you!I was reading this book while I was on a 2 week tour of Turkey and I really enjoyed it!I have enjoyed the Kudsi Ergunner Ensemble for years, so it was interesting to read about Kudsi's childhood, his family, and their culture going to Sufi meetings in secret, etc.The modern Turkish Republic suppressed any non-modern music for quite some time, thus Sufi's had a play their music in secret.Eventually, Kudsi and some friends end up leaving to go to France where they find that their music is more welcomed and appreciated than it is in their own home country.Of course, there's always the pull of the family and an aging father, pulling him back to Turkey.

Very interesting and enjoyable read!
... Read more

Product Description
The 1970s classic of spirituality complete with photos and eighteen drawings of spiritual teachers corresponding to the eighteen sacrifices on this path. A book which has inspired many since its first publication. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Stages on the Path
The Joy of Sacrifice is an early work. Later, and some would say more important works, still used by Mr. Gold's students bear such titles as American Book of the Dead, Life in the Labyrinth, Visions in the Stone, The Hidden Work, and many others. Mr. Gold is one of those rare teachers with which this planet is graced from time to time. Those who find him are guided as adepts are reputed to be guided to The Great White Brotherhood. Joy of Sacrifice contains a brief exposition of the experiences of any person seriously working through any religious or spiritual tradition. These expositions are descriptions of things people experience and subsequently give up as they do their spiritual practice and tread their paths, not so much as a matter of suffering, though suffering is with all of us until the Ego is relinquished, but as a matter of having been there and gone through them. Sage advice about living as a spiritual seeker can be found in these pages and only serious path workers will welcome the wisdom found there. May your own path making be blessed.

Heartfelt Compassionate and Informative
I love this book. It is one of my favorites. The love pours through the pages. It is a life's work in just the first chapter. It is a long road and we walk alone. One foot in front and then the next. Moment by moment. All you have is Love. All you need is Love.

From aztec altars to the sufi big mac syndrome
I wasn't aware that 'sacrifice' was a sufi teaching, and Mr. Gold's Crowley routine should have told him 'sacrifice' is a phoney spirituality. But then Crowley sacrificed a frog. What's Mr. Gold's game here? The public has a right to know. Hohum,the 'work' of fleecing the multitude must go on.

We need more information here. Sacrifice is the wilful of destruction of human beings, more sophisticated spiritual interpretations notwithstanding. How does this work out in practice with Mr. Gold's 'groupies'?We need a new kind of private eye to track the fate of the victimes here. These sufis are clever. You will never catch them on the ordinary police beat.

Capiche? There really is a sufi mafia, you know. ... Read more

Product Description
Take a magic carpet ride into the delightful world of Sufi storytelling with these best-loved tales from Persian literature and lore, in which images of madness, passionate love, and self-sacrifice convey the inner experiences of the soul that has surrendered to the Divine Beloved. The tales are retold from the celebrated works of Sufi poets and spiritual masters such as Rumi, Attar, Nizami, and Jami, as well as anecdotes about these famous masters.Amazon.com Review
Aesop and Jesus both knew that the best way to get a point acrosswas through stories. In Tales from the Land of the Sufis, we findthat same approach applied in Sufism, the mystical heart ofIslam. Mojdeh Bayat and Mohammad Ali Jamnia retell in exquisite style someof the great tales from the likes of Attar and Rumi. Their emphasis is on the authors of the tales and how the exemplary lives of themaster Sufi storytellers have also become material ripe for stories.Sufi story collections tend to be enchanting or humorously provocative and stand detached from the tradition. By including classic Sufi storytellers as subject matter, Bayat and Jamniapresent these tales in their full spiritual glory. With themes such asself-sacrifice, humility, service, simplicity, faith in God, and, ultimately, union with God, the stories show both the outrageous iconoclasm of Sufism andits highest fundamentals. So, from dark tales,like the one about a mystic blasphemer who was executed by having his limbs and sense organs removed, to lighter stories, like those about a bald parrotand Alexander's big ears, Bayat and Jamnia strike a balance in thisinformative and eloquent storybook. --Brian Bruya ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Could not put this book down
This book is so well written that I could not put the book down. The tales from different sufis are great. You will learn the hidden meaning behind great stories like Liala Majnun and Shrin and Farhad.
The only complaint that I have since the authors are from Iran, they claim that Maulana Rumi and Jami are Persian(Iranian). These two giants were born in Afghanistan ( Balkh and Herat) and afghanistan (formerly known as khurasan) speak in classical form of persian as they do now. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

best book on women in Islam
Iwas born in Moslem family and have read Quran for over 30 years. Honestly, I was not expecting to learn much when I picked this book up. To my amazement, there is a lot to be gained from the book for any body who wants to know a complete picture on the issue of women in Islam. Many books are written on the subject, but Dr. Wilcox approach it with open mind and heart, and free of a lot of prejudices and prejudgements that exist against muslems and Islam. I highly recommend it for all seekers of Truth. Thank you Lynn Wilcox. ... Read more

Product Description

These inviting tales provide simple, yet profound advice to young children. M. R. Bawa Muhaiyaddeen speaks of the generosity of nature, of the tree that gives its fruit selflessly without expecting anything in return, and the forest life that lives in unity. He also warns about tiny red ants that can cause so much damage even though they are small, and reminds us to guard ourselves against any negative qualities, no matter how minor.

The stories also tell children about their true nature one of purity and resplendent light that comes from God.

Perfect for bedtime stories, these selections are gems of wisdom that young children can take in, ponder, and draw from in their lives.

Customer Reviews (4)

Rahman Richard Sharpe
Bawa Muhaiyaddeen is the most priceless treasure that came into my life. With God's love he saved my eternal existance. This book heals the body and soul with God's wisdom and compassion. This book will not hurt anyone. Please read this book. It is a gem.

Come to the Secret Garden
I grew up on this book.A great book full of stories for people of all ages.A definite must!

Wonderful sufi stories for anyone no matter your faith.
This book is for anyone between the ages of 8 and 88. Moral based stories many of them from the animal kingdom. Take the hand of a kindly sage and enter the secret garden where the inner mysteries of God's creation arerevealed. Through its humorous insights and unique perspectives, thiscollection of short stories will enchant the hearts of children and adultsalike.

A beautiful gathering of stories for 'children' of all ages.
One of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen's 2 collections of short tales with a moral or wisdom point. The author deftly explains the inner meaning of each story in an easily approachable style. Many of the stories concern the prophets of God. We raised our 7 children reading them a story or two each night at bedtime. (Takes 5-10 minutes each) Bawa Muhaitaddeen was a Sufi of towering stature. Any of his books are illuminating for all. A MUST read!! ... Read more

Product Description
As human beings we stand on the threshold between two realities: the world of material existence and the world of spiritual Being. The "knowing heart" is the sacred place where these two dimensions meet and are integrated.

In Sufi teaching the human heart is not a fanciful metaphor but an objective organ of intuition and perception. It is able to perceive all that is beautiful, lovely, and meaningful in life—and to reflect these spiritual qualities in the world, for the benefit of others. Every human heart has the capacity and the destiny to bring that world of divine reality into this world of appearances.

The Sufis, mystics of Islam, have been educators of the heart for some fourteen centuries. Their teachings and methods are designed to help us awaken and purify the heart, to learn to listen to our deepest knowing. InThe Knowing Heart,Kabir Helminski presents the Sufi way as a practical spirituality suitable for all cultures and times—and offers insights that are especially valuable for our life in today's world. In cultivating a knowing heart, we learn to experience a new sense of self, transform our relationships, and enhance our creative capacities. Most important, we learn how to meet the spiritual challenge of our time: to realize our sacred humanness.Amazon.com Review
Sufism is making a name for itself as a viable spiritual path for the average Westerner, and Kabir Helminski is blazing the trail. A genuine Sufi shaikh and representative of the Mevlevi order of Sufism in North America, Helminski seeks to create what he calls "a spirituality adequate to our times." In The Knowing Heart's collected essays, Helminski delves into the unique characteristics that define Sufism and make it relevant to seekers today. Along the way, he explains the difference between a shaikh and a dervish; the purpose of the dervish's whirling dance during a sema; why Sufis chant the zikr; when a spiritual conversation is a sohbet; and how love turns service into ecstasy. Although the author is reaching into an ancient foreign tradition, there is little in this book that's arcane or awkward. Helminski softens his delivery with liberal use of poems, especially from his lineal forebear Rumi, and with pithy stories that are the hallmark of Sufi teaching. The overall message is that true spirituality requires sustained self-development, and The Knowing Heart offers an attractive path. --Brian Bruya ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Nice book
This could be a good book to borrow from a library if you want a basic and high-level view into Islam-oriented Sufism.The book is light and gentle but not too much in real depth in understanding Sufism.

For most people in the West/Europe/USA then the writings of Hazrat Inayat Khan may be more accessible and meaningful.If you do not consider it blasphemy to consider a more universal sufism, what that honors Islam, but it not constrained by it, then Inayat Khan will be very interesting.Suggest you try 'The Heart Of Sufism' by H.J. Witteveen.

Sufi Wisdom
For all of the Ratmouse's criticisms and scepticism (as I have stated- I am here to collect bad reviews and undermine the human race), I will hand it the humans for one thing- writing and publishing this book. Here we enter a fascinating branch of Islam- the Sufi realm of mysticism where a loving heart and selflessness are guiding principles. In the past I have drawn attention to Islam's general construct, then to the Koran's most hostile verses. Now I would like to complete this look at Islam by recommending this book. The only call to arms someone like Bin Laden might find in this book is the call to open one's arms and accept people of all races, religions, ethnicities and creeds with a loving heart. Author Kabir Helminski has here provided a kind of spiritual Jihad where loving one's neighbors is the meaning of enlightenment and life. But this book is so much more- it takes one through levels of development, like the unpeeling of an onion, until only the ocean of happy compassion remains. Not saying that the RatMouse now has a little halo over his grimy ears, but he certainly now tries to learn from the words of wisdom presented in this majestic tome. Allah, with a loving heart, is great.

How to experience a new sense of self
The Knowing Heart: A Sufi Path Of Transformation is Kabir Helminski's latest contribution to the growing body of Sufi literature and reveals that in Sufi tradition and belief the human heart is more than just a fanciful metaphor, but an objective organ of intuition and perception able to perceive the beauty and meaning in life. Every human heart has the innate capacity and the destiny to bring the spiritual qualities of the world of divinity reality into the human world of appearances. Kabir Helminski presents the Sufi way as a practical spirituality suitable for all cultures and times. The Knowing Heart also offers insights into contemporary life and how to experience a new sense of self, transform relationships, and enhance creativity, all while learning how to meet and master the spiritual challenges of the times and realizing our own "sacred humanness". The Knowing Heart is a very highly recommended addition to personal and academic Sufi studies reading lists and library collections.

Insights relevant to modern life
The Knowing Heart: A Sufi Path Of Transformation presents the Sufi way as a practical spirituality suitable for all cultures and times as Kabir Helminski offers insights relevant to life in today's modern, technology oriented, rapidly evolving, fast-paced and complex world. In cultivating a "knowing heart" the reader will learn to experience a renewed sense of self, transform his or her relationships, enhance creative capacity, and learn to meet the spiritual challenges so pervasive to our time. The Knowing Heart is enthusiastically recommended for students of Eastern philosopher in general, and the Sufi belief system in particular.

This is the honor that all of us deserve
I do this review not as a result of my strong emotions those have stimulated upon reading the book, but also, maybe more importantly, because of the responsibility i felt.

Having been/raised Muslim all my life, i was familiar with the facts and concepts that Kabir Helminski included. However, KH prepared a very well tuned compilation of our 'being' consisting of nothing too much or too less. One word would describe this intimate and honest work: 'Moderacy'. Moderate as to contain every simplicity and complexity. Just like the 'Oneness' containes all in its sacred stillness.

He flows in the words with a touching rythm and makes you flow hand-in-hand with love. He does his final touch while shaping up the expressions and the descriptions intotal faith. You can absorb as long as you strive to be as honest, as clean, as faithful, as open, as humble, as objective, as subjective, as prudent as he is...Only if you strive, not necessarily you be.It won't change your faith, will only refine it as it was meant to be, couple of million years ago.

As i have just stated above, KH doesn't claim something new; one can derive alot even though he/she thinks that he/she already knows it all. He just, with God's help, knows how to place the pearls in our craving soul with an absolute love, conscience and wit. All of us deserve this.

I had my share, and my gratitude goes first to God then to KH.

God bless KH and all the belivers. ... Read more

Product Description
Garden of Mystery, the 'Gulshan-i Raz', holds a unique position in Persian Sufi literature. It is a compact and concise exploration of the doctrines of Sufism at the peak of their development that has remained a primary text of Sufism throughout the world from Turkey to India. It comprises a thousand lines of inspired poetry taking the form of answers to questions put by a fellow mystic. It provides a coherent literary bridge between the Persian 'school of love' poetry and the rapidly growing number of metaphysical and gnostic compositions from what had come to be known as the school of the 'Unity of Being'. Translated by Robert Darr who has for thirty-five years been a student of classical Islamic culture. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

In the Pupil of an Eye an Endless Heaven.
My ancient musty translation is called "The Rose-Garden of Secrets": I despair of anyone who is not attracted by the promise of that title. Now after all these years there's a new, readable version. Have people begun to realise, because of Rûmî's popularity, that Islam has created the world's greatest spiritual literature?

This is not a book of stories like Rûmî's "Masnavi" or `Attâr's "Conference of the Birds". It is a poetic exposition of some of the mysteries of Sufism, such as the special meanings given to words like "wine" and "tavern", or words related to human love. Central is the idea, taught by Plato in the West, that Beauty is the signature in this world of Unmanifest Reality, and that Beauty is our path of return.

Of course Shabistarî assumes that his readers are practising Muslims and Sufis, so reading him is like listening to a song in an unknown language: you can appreciate the beauty of the voice and the music although you're unable to follow the words.

Here'ssample (from the old translation):
"Pierce the heart of a raindrop and a hundred pure oceans will flow out,
Examine one speck of dust and you'll see a thousand creatures.
Within a single barleycorn are contained a hundred harvests,
In the pith of a millet-seed an entire universe,
In an insect's wing an ocean of wonder,
In the pupil of an eye an endless heaven".

Go sweep out the house of self; Make ready a place for the Beloved.
The Garden of Mystery (Gulshan-i raz) is considered to be one of the greatest classical Persian works of the Islamic mystical tradition known in the west as Sufism. Mahmud Shabistari, who was one of the most celebrated of the Persian Sufi poets, composed the Garden of Mystery early in the14th century.

This new translation of the Garden of Mystery by Robert Abdul Hayy Darr is a wonderful addition to the field of classical Sufi texts available in English and a great guide to spiritual seekers of all traditions. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

Should have been a lot more.
Iman al-Haddad is quite a well known scholar especially amongst English speaking Muslims due to a number of his and his descendants works being translated into English by the author of this book M al-Badawi.This book, on the face of it is a biography of Imam al-Haddad (Well that is what it is described as on the back cover) However in that sense it is something of a disappointment.

This is really not a biography but rather the author traces the life of Imam al-Haddad while addressing issues relating to Sufism.While this may be of great interest to the follower of the particular Sufi order to which Imam al-Haddad belonged or to someone wanting say an introduction to Sufism or a Muslim reading up a bit more on the subject I found myself very quickly skipping pages as a large amount of this books topics have been covered in numerous other books.It would appear that Mr al-Badawi has attempted to adopt the style of Martin Lings in his excellent biography of Shaykh al-Alawi in that he attempts to tie in historical and social events that went on during the Imams life however where I think this fails is that Shaykh al-Alawi is a contemporary scholar (Living through much of the last century) Whereas Imam al-Haddad lived over 2 centuries ago so the reader requires much more historical detail to put events into context.

There are numerous photographs contained in this book which do make a fine addition to it including the zawiya, various Mosques where he taught, his historical homes etc.The introduction gives a brief history of the Imam arriving in Yemen from the Iraq area to very briefly covering his teachers.The book then goes on to discuss issues such as Sufism, Sainthood, the Imam as a teacher etc as well as his position on Islamic doctrine (Which may have been a contentious issue where he lived as Yemen was and is now divided between Shafi Sunni Muslims and Zaydi Shia) Unfortunately the problem with all of this as I have pointed out above is that this is covered in numerous other books (Martin Lings, Sufi saint being one of them and Imam al-Haddad's own books translated into English being others)

For the reasons above I only give this 3 stars.Not because this is a particularly poor book, far from it.Simply that many of the topics in the book have been covered by numerous others and therefore for the reader Muslim or non Muslim they would find very little else in this book to discover.

Perhaps the author would have been better to have written a simple biography of Imam al-Haddad.I feel it would have been much more appreciated and much more beneficial in our contribution to Islamic studies in the west.

Excellent introduction to Ba'Alawis and Imam al Haddad
Dr. Mostafa Badawi is a well respected name within Sufi circles. I bought this book without reading any reviews and I haven't regretted it. In my opinion this book isn't just about Imam Al Haddad's life, but it also answers many questions that individuals associated with the Sufi path might have. ... Read more

Product Description
Full of Sufi teachings, meditations, and engaging self-help exercises, this first book on the inner dimensions of Sufi practice will nourish the heart and soul of everyone seeking personal growth, emotional balance, and spiritual harmony. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Connection between psychology and spirituality
I love reading this book and recommended to group studies as well .It is easy to understand and full of short sufi tales. This book describesessence of islam which revolve around betterment of self ,purification and progression of soul.Islam inspire evolution of soul.This path of evolution is called sufism in modern term. Wonderful book for those who are intereted in spiritual quest. Exploring connection between spiritualty and psychology.
It is also a good book for comparitive study between western and eastern psychology. Stories of sufis convey deep understanding of islamic views as well. One can learn a lot through this kind of exploration about ego. Postive and negative effect of ego on our soul.Application of concepts help one progress towards spiritual growth and purification.Help one understand human nature ,own self ,soul and distinguish between healthy qualities and egoistic distructive qualites hidden in every human being. How we should over come these negative tendencies hidden in us. First step is recognition of negativity with in us through meditation.Second step isTransformation of negative, distructive self thus cultivating positive qualties that leads to evolution of one self.

Sufism from the psychological perspective
Sheikh Muzaffer must have been a good Guru for initiating this author into sufism. Dr. Frager's understanding and contribution to sufism is valuable. His writing is easy to understand and practice [though page 173-174 is acceptable for those who are not yet Muslim; Muslim should refer to more valid intruction and guide].

What he shared at times touches my heart. Sufism/tasawwuf, or the spiritual component of Islam is the beautiful aspect of Islam; the right path to God as long as practiced according or within the syariah, the physical component.

Dr. Frager, being a clinical psychologist was able to show how sufism could be incoporated into healing. This aspect of healing should be within the capacity of all muslim doctors.

This book is suitable for lay person as well as specialist in medical or psychological field. It should be a must for psychiatrists in training, who probably have been exposed only to Fruedian or neofreudian thinking.

One of The Best Explanations of Sufism Given In The West
When one thinks of Sufism in the West, most often it is related to Rumi,or it is a very general apprehension of Sufism in a starkness that fails toconvey it's heart and reality. This book is, as of yet still not very wellknown, but it will soon be very well known- because Robert Frager expositsthe teaching, and psychology of Sufism in the most complete manner that hasever been done in the West. He is a scholar, but he is also a Sufi Shaykh,in the lineage al-Jerrahi al-Halveti. Shaykh Frager has had incredible, andpowerful teachers in Shaykh Muzafer Ozak, and Shaykh Tosun Bayrak.Thisbook contains the essence of what Shaykh Frager has benn teaching over theyears. It is all here, finally put down in book, and is fantastic.Thelanguage of the book is intuitive, clear, and precise. It draws one toexamine the one's self. The teachings on the nafs and the lower self arevery serious and important. This is a path of Love in action. It teaches ofthe Eye of the Heart, or Intellect of the Heart as the reigning wisdom thatsubdues all ignorance, and obscuration of being-It shows you how. Thespirit of true prayer is also conveyed by this book. It is a rich treasurethat once ingested will remain in the soul for the rest of one's life. Thisbook will prove to be vey hard to improve on. All praise to Allah! ... Read more

Product Description
Islam is often described by Orientalists as particularly abstract, ascetic, and uniquely disengaged from the human body. Scott A. Kugle refutes this assertion in the first full study of Islamic mysticism as it relates to the human body. Examining Sufi conceptions of the body in religious writings from the late fifteenth through nineteenth centuries, Kugle demonstrates that literature from this era often treated saints' physical bodies as sites of sacred power. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Review of Sufis and Saints' Bodies
This reading as proved very ENLIGHTENING...................and very much down to earth enough to understand easily................ ... Read more

Product Description
The Prayer is a drawing of the curtain, an invitation to a secret place that is discovered and explored. . . .

According to tradition and the testimony of Sufi mystics, The Prayer--or Salat--was first taught by the angels, who themselves practiced it in celestial adoration. The Prayer is God's gift to all humankind, and in this gorgeously illustrated volume, its simple, archetypal practice unfolds like a fragrant, many-petaled flower, joining words and movements into a single luminous event that engages our entire being.

These ancient rituals are presented here as a gift for anyone with a heartfelt desire to set aside for a moment the concerns of every day and enter a sacred time and space in which to explore the beckonings of the spirit. The authors take us through the words, movements, and hidden meanings of the Call to Prayer, the Ablutions, The Prayer itself, and the Peaceful Embrace afterwards. Faithful practice lends a sacred rhythm to each day and creates a psychological force that helps us nurture and express a profound inner harmony.

This first, marvelously accessible interpretation of The Prayer also offers a compelling introductin to the wisdom and teachings of the beloved contemporary Sufi master Bawa Muhaiyaddeen, who brought new life to this mystical tradition by opening a passage to its deepest, universal realities. It is the loving handiwork of two of Bawa's best-known students, Coleman Barks and Michael Green, who also created The Illuminated Rumi.

Like a jewel given extra brilliance by its setting, The Prayer is surrounded by the wisdom and understanding of the thirteenth-century Sufi master Rumi, whose generous poetry has become an essential canon for modern-day seekers in the West. The final gift is the Primeval Kalima, the core practice and most profound teaching of the Sufi, the "open secret" that leads to Divine Luminous Wisdom. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

PRAYER
This is an extraordinary collaboration by poet and illustrator. It is a true blessing. One can see the beauty and significance of Islamic prayer. The commentary is sprinkled with renditions of Rumi and Bawa. THE ILLUSTRATED RUMI is an excellent sequel.

The answer is in the title..
No comment can bring you closer to the truth of this BOOK
May GOD continue to enlighten the authors and the rest of us too
Thank you for the pointers...GOD bless you!

A Beautiful Helper for Prayer
I love this book. I found it in a book store and decided to buy it on Amazon to get a cheaper price. It is a beautiful, simple and extremely enjoyable guide to prayer. It has thoughtful and touching images on every single page, and guides you through the steps of prayer in the Muslim or Sufi way. I feel this prayer practice is appropriate for all faiths, however. Performing this prayer, in the right way, meaing with the intention to reach God, leads to stable calm and sustainable peace throughout your day. The practice is not too strenuous, though it does require effort and mindfullness, which makes it worth all the more. Highly recommended!

The Five TImes Prayer of the Sufis
This is a very simple and eloquent little book, covering a topic I have not seen covered elsewhere.The book is filled with poetic wisdom and delightful graphics that can be enjoyed by seekers on any spiritual path.

Fantastic book!
This is a great book not only for Muslims but for anybody who wants to learn the basics of Islam. I have my own copy and bought a copy for a Christian friend who loved it. Check it out...the language is easy to understand and the illustrations are very nice too! ... Read more