Tasawwuf sufism is neither a religion nor a philosophy. Sufism is the religion of the heart, the religion in which the most important thing is to seek god in the heart of mankind. As an inner school it is dedicated to nurturing mystical awakening in individuals. Tradition, however, must be conceived in a vital and dynamic sense. The result was an outpouring of mystical insight and spiritual wisdom. The book is beyond islam, beyond sufism to knowledge of heart purification and interior selftransformation that kabir helminski calls universal applied spirituality. Muslims pray five times a day facing the city of makkah. While sufism is said to have incorporated elements of christian monasticism, gnosticism, and indian mysticism, its origins are traced to forms of devotion and groups of penitents zuhhad in the formative period of islam. Sufism evokes considerable interest amongst people mainly because of the mysticism associated with it and also because not much is known about the secrets. The mysticism of islam is known as sufism, a name said to be derived from the arabic word suf which means wool, referring to the woolen mantles worn by the sufis. Listen to thousands of best sellers and new releases on your iphone, ipad, or android. This deeper identity, beyond the already known personality, is in harmony with all that exists. An introduction to the mystical tradition of islam. Whenever a religion is alive it is because of sufism.
Read by david ault perhaps the best introduction to the body of shahs work, the most comprehensively informative. Dec 08, 2007 sufi practices have their foundation in purity of life, strict obedience to islamic law and imitation of the prophet. Sufism and the christian east sufism and the christian east by james s. Sufism is popular in such african countries as egypt, tunisia, algeria, morocco, and senegal, where it is seen as a mystical expression of islam. The wisdom of the sufis audiobook by hidayat inayatkhan. The life of a sufi is the life of the spirit regulated strictly in accordance with islamic theology and traditions. Sufism is a way of life in which a deeper identity is discovered and lived. Some scholars on religion and spirituality believe sufism is a mystical concept that predates history, long before organised religion came in to existence. Read sufism and society arrangements of the mystical in the muslim world, 12001800 by available from rakuten kobo. Popular sufism books showing 150 of 1,331 the forty rules of love hardcover by.
Indeed this prophecy has come true with the prevalence of sects and deviant beliefs within the religion of islam. This contemplative process depends upon the simultaneous nurturing of psychological health, openheartedness, and caring action. This deeper identity, or essential self, has abilities of awareness, action, creativity and love that are far beyond. Collected books and discourses of the masters of the most distinguished naqshbandi way. Excerpted from the knowing heart, a sufi path of transformation is it possible for humanity, or even a portion of it, to embrace a truly universal spirituality. Conforming to the outer form of religion is important for sufis. If you are in doubt to purchase this audiobook listen to osho on youtube, there a numerous videos on his discourses. In his new audiobook, renowned spiritual teacher and sufi sheikh kabir. May 10, 2011 12 a very fine introduction to the history, essential devotional forms, and poetry of the various cultures of mystical islam, this book should lead to further study of sufi philosophy and metaphysics, the particular exercises or specific practices and approaches in dhikr, and the various states toward religious union and other deep experiences. However you can still research sufism, and while the spiritual practices are focused on dhikr of allah and creating a spiritual connection with allah. List of books and articles about sufism online research.
Hidayat defines the word sufi as wisdom and purity. Read unlimited books and audiobooks on the web, ipad, iphone and. Sufism is less a doctrine or a belief system than an experience and way of life. The sufi way is contemporary expression of a perennial spiritual path. The book is beyond islam, beyond sufism to knowledge of heart purification and. It is claimed that the idea of sufism has been expressed by hindu and christian hermits and later influenced islam. He explains that any person whose heart is attuned to the divine presence is a sufi, because sufism means purifying oneself and ones mind from preconceived ideas. In recent years, many historians of islamic mysticism have been grappling in sophisticated ways with the difficulties of. Of their seven children only their daughter fatimah survived beyond childhood. Plus, youll get an additional audiobook per month after trial. Beyond religion audiobook by his holiness the dalai lama.
Osho clarifies the sufi approach to religiosity, which is to become part of the mystery of existence by living meditatively, being total and transcending experience itself. Elif shafak goodreads author shelved 60 times as sufism. It has been defined as mystical islamic belief and practice in which muslims seek to find the truth of divine love and knowledge through direct personal experience of god. The book is oriented around islam, but has meaning for all religions and particularly for those individuals who are looking for a spiritual approach to life beyond the external. This is a universal code of ethics that transcends religion boundaries, that recognizes our common humanity and advocates for a global human community based on understanding and mutual respect. We are currently offering free shipping on all domestic orders to customers in the united states. The moral dimensions of sufism and the iberian mystical canon.
Sufism is the mystical dimension of the islamic faith. Sufism holds a doctrine of god which is extremely lofty. Moving beyond the description of doctrine, this book places sufism in its social, cultural and historical contexts. Sufism is traditional in morocco, but has seen a growing revival with the renewal of sufism under contemporary spiritual teachers such as hamza al qadiri al boutchichi. If so, what would a universal spirituality be based on.
Sufism evokes considerable interest amongst people mainly because of the mysticism associated with it and also because not much is known about the secrets of. Sufism and the christian east is an informed and informative study of the common threads and traits shared between the traditions of the christian east and islamic sufism. Sufism beyond religion the sufis look into the heart of a sufi, if you want to see the reality, you would find there nothing but, the true reflection of the almighty. Parallels between sufism and christianity the path of the. In this thoughtprovoking new book, he argues that religion is not a necessity for pursuing a spiritual life. Jan 04, 2011 parallels between sufism and christianity during his life, the prophet muhammad pbuh prophesized that islam will be divided into sects just as judaism and christianity did before it. Piety, politics, and popular culture is a mustread for students, researchers, and those with an expertise in religious studies, islam, and sufism and is highly recommended for the general readership as well. Despite the long and wellknown history of conflict between christians and muslims, their mystical traditions especially.
Sufism simply means a love affair with god, with the ultimate, a love affair with the whole. With muslim mysticism we see the climax of the development of religious life and teaching in islam. Osho is a spiritual master and awakened being, he has an explanation for everything. Christian mysticism is also not a religion, it is an approach to religion. Inside every mosque is a niche, or recess, called the mihrab a vertical rectangle curved at the top that points toward the direction of makkah. Now, in beyond religion, the dalai lama, at his most compassionate and outspoken, elaborates and deepens his vision for the nonreligious way. Type some details of the book like a title, author or keywords. Transcending the mere religion wars, he outlines a system of ethics for our shared world, one that gives full respect to religion. Through selfdenial, careful introspection and mental struggle, sufis hope to purify the self from all selfishness, thus attaining ikhlas, absolute purity of intention and act.
The essence of sufism by john baldock book read online scribd. The forty rules of love by elif shafak, the conference of the birds by attar of nishapur, the essential rumi by rumi, the sufis. To attain this his first lesson is unshakable belief in the existence of god and unconditional surrender to his will. If it was mere learning, one could acquire it by studying. A brief look at how sufism differs and contradicts the teachings of islam. Sufism and society ebook by 97816659041 rakuten kobo.
I find is voice sooting to listen to and he gives a comprehensive introduction to sufism a topic i knew nothing about before. Sufism is the inner spiritual dimension within islam. Sufism cherishes the esoteric secret of woman, even though sufism is the esoteric aspect of a seemingly patriarchal religion. This first part defines sufism, mentions its origins and how it differs from islam in the concept of belief in god, belief in the prophet muhammad may the blessing and mercy of god be upon him and belief in heaven and hell. Sufism, on the other hand is spiritual dimension of godman union. Sep 08, 2009 nonmuslims often mistake sufism as a sect of islam. These secret instructions are acted upon by a disciple with perfect faith in the teacher. It is a tradition of enlightenment that carries the essential truth forward through time. The bahai faith is a religion, which has a strong mystic element. Sufi orders tariqas can be found in sunni, shia and other islamic. In this remarkable dialogue between hidayat inayatkhan and deepak chopra, m.
Offering the first truly global account of the history of sufism, this illuminating book traces the gradual spread and influence of sufi islam through the middle east, asia, africa, and ultimately into europe and the united states. Islam once gave birth to a great civilization that respected religious diversity, freedom. This article focuses on how sufis, carmelites and other mystical authors expressed. Beyond religion audiobook his holiness the dalai lama audible. Sufism beyond religion email sufism evokes considerable interest amongst people mainly because of the mysticism associated with it and also because not much is known about the secrets of their knowledge. His holiness the dalai lama speaks on universal values to students at salwan public school in new delhi, india on november 18, 2017.
Sufism is more accurately described as an aspect or dimension of islam. Cutsinger professor of theology and religious thought, university of south carolina, paths to the heart. Difference between islam and sufism difference between. Sufism is less an islamic sect than a mystical way of approaching the islamic faith. Here is an excerpt taken from one of their descriptions of. There are three ways of seeking god in the human heart. In the 20th century, thomas merton, one of christianitys great mystics, encountered the ancient eastern mystical tradition known as sufism. Sufis, therefore, lay stress on the unity of inner teachings of all religions rather than on their outer form. To be a true human being, free from all bondage and honest with the almighty is being a sufi.
Islamic mystics are called sufis and their way of life is sufism also spelled. Sufis teach that sufism may be practiced with any religion it is the heart of religion. Spiritual dialogue went beyond the chronological and geographical. The history and methodology of sufism sufism is an esoteric doctrine transmitted by word of mouth, and sometimes without even a spoken or written word, by an authorized teacher to a disciple, and from disciple to another disciple, in confidence. Jun 22, 2007 sufism is not a religion, it is the diverse mystic tradition within islam. Beyond religion is an essential statement from the dalai lama, a blueprint for all those who yearn for a life fulfilled and a better world. This produced a moral ethos, an expected standard of conduct that was part of both religious systems but tried to reach beyond them. Insight into life is the real religion, which alone can help man to understand life. Since the emergence of sufism in the ninth century, the shrines, brotherhoods and doctrines of the sufis have held vast influence in almost every corner of the muslim world.