Beauty in Sufism

Beauty in Sufism
Author: Kazuyo Murata
Publisher: State University of New York Press
Total Pages: 214
Release: 2017-04-05
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1438462808

According to Muhammad, "God is beautiful and He loves beauty." Yet, Islam is rarely associated with beauty, and today, a politicized Islam dominates many perceptions. This work tells a forgotten story of beauty in Islam through the writings of celebrated but little-studied Sufi scholar and saint Rūzbihān Baqlī (1128–1209). Rūzbihān argued that the pursuit of beauty in the world and in oneself was the goal of Muslim life. One should become beautiful in imitation of God and reclaim the innate human nature created in God's beautiful image. Rūzbihān's theory of beauty is little known, largely because of his convoluted style and eccentric terminology in both Persian and Arabic. In this book, Kazuyo Murata revives Rūzbihān's ideas for modern readers. She provides an overview of Muslim discourse on beauty before Rūzbihān's time; an analysis of key terms related to beauty in the Qur'ān, Ḥadīth, and in Rūzbihān's writings; a reconstruction of Rūzbihān's understanding of divine, cosmic, and human beauty; and a discussion of what he regards as the pinnacle of beauty in creation, the prophets, especially Adam, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, and Muhammad.

Practical Sufism

Practical Sufism
Author: Phillip Gowins
Publisher: Quest Books
Total Pages: 241
Release: 2012-12-19
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0835630102

This wise, funny, and compassionate book follows Gowins apprenticeship with Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan, spiritual leader of the Sufi Order International. Until now, Pir Vilayat’s order has not had a strong, accessible introduction. This book not only provides that service but is more down-to-earth than most books on Sufism. It also has the advantage of being universalistic. “The Sufi Way is not a religion or a component of a religion but the heart of all religions and spiritualities,” Gowins says. Because it is non-dogmatic and offers no catechisms or creeds, its teachers are essential. Gowins emerges as a superb teacher, offering a user-friendly guide to the Sufi Way that is at once valuable to any seeker entering any spiritual path. Gowins is quick to emphasize that Sufism is not the only path or even the right path for everyone. His approach is full of engaging stories and specific practices that could be helpful in many circumstances. Readers will benefit from his gentle Sufi teachings of love, tolerance, unity, and consciousness, no matter what their chosen path.

Sufi Talks

Sufi Talks
Author: Robert Frager
Publisher: Quest Books
Total Pages: 313
Release: 2012-06-26
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 083560893X

A professor of psychology and religious studies who became a sheikh in 1985 describes the teachings of the Sufi master Muzaffer Efendi and shares the universal wisdom and lessons for enhancing one's interpersonal relationships through connecting with God. Original.

Teachings of Sufism

Teachings of Sufism
Author: Carl W. Ernst
Publisher: Shambhala Publications
Total Pages: 248
Release: 1999-11-23
Genre: History
ISBN:

Includes a chapter on the character of the prophet Muhammad, and one on lives of the saints, including women saints.

Sufism

Sufism
Author: Carl W. Ernst
Publisher: Shambhala Publications
Total Pages: 288
Release: 2017-04-04
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0834822970

The Sufis are as diverse as the countries in which they've flourished—from Morocco to India to China—and as varied as their distinctive forms of art, music, poetry, and dance. They are said to represent the mystical heart of Islam, yet the term Sufism is notoriously difficult to define, as it means different things to different people both within and outside the tradition. With that fact in mind, Carl Ernst explores the broadest range of Sufi philosophies and practices to provide one of the most complete and comprehensive introductions to Sufism available in English. He traces the history of the movement from the earliest days of Islam to the present day, along the way examining its relationship to the larger world of Islam and its encounters with both fundamentalism and secularism in the modern world.

The Sufi Book of Life

The Sufi Book of Life
Author: Neil Douglas-Klotz
Publisher: Penguin
Total Pages: 337
Release: 2005-02-22
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1440684243

Part meditation book, part oracle, and part collection of Sufi lore, poetry, and stories, The Sufi Book of Life offers a fresh interpretation of the fundamental spiritual practice found in all ancient and modern Sufi schools—the meditations on the 99 Qualities of Unity. Unlike most books on Sufism, which are primarily collections of translated Sufi texts, this accessible guide is a handbook that explains how to apply Sufi principles to modern life. With inspirational commentary that connects each quality with contemporary concerns such as love, work, and success, as well as timeless wisdom from Sufi masters, both ancient and modern, such as Rumi, Hafiz, Shabistari, Rabia, Inayat Khan, Indries Shah, Irina Tweedie, Bawa Muhaiyadden, and more, The Sufi Book of Life is a dervish guide to life and love for the twenty-first century. On the web: http://sufibookoflife.com

The Teachings of a Sufi Master

The Teachings of a Sufi Master
Author: Seyed Mostafa Azmayesh
Publisher: Lulu.com
Total Pages: 204
Release: 2016-01-27
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0955811775

In this book the reader is exposed to teachings of Sufism, which is branch of Gnosticism (the esoteric path to self-awareness). Each, individual is composed of an existence and an essence. The latter is an evolving reality. At any moment an individual can become a demon or an angel. One radically becomes a demon if the demonic drives of his ego take charge - an angel if the angelic attributes of his spirit occupy the terrain. The person who seeks victory of his spirit over his ego produces waves around his spirit-waves that will be captured by him who will teach the person the techniques of esoteric development. He will appear in the person's life at the opportune moment...

Living Sufism

Living Sufism
Author: Seyyed Hossein Nasr
Publisher:
Total Pages: 184
Release: 1980
Genre: Mysticism
ISBN:

The Essence of Sufism

The Essence of Sufism
Author: John Baldock
Publisher: Arcturus Publishing
Total Pages: 146
Release: 2005-03-01
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1848584075

Insight into Life is the real religion, which alone can help man to understand Life.' Hazrat Inayat Khan The Sufis have been using carefully constructed stories for teaching purposes for thousands of years. Though on the surface these often appear to be little more than fairy or folk tales, the Sufis hold that they enshrine - in their characters, plots and imagery - patterns and relationships that nurture a part of the mind not reachable in more conventional ways, thus increasing our understanding, flexibility and breadth of vision. Familiarization with this body of material can eventually provide answers to questions about our origins and our destiny. In this book John Baldock explores the rich body of literature the Sufis have produced to guide spiritual travellers. While explaining the significant teachings and emphasizing their significance for us, he sheds a timely light on the Sufis' fascinating perception of life, revealing it to be a process of the heart and not of the head, and offers intriguing pathways to further study and reflection.