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Books > Humanities > Religion & beliefs > Aspects of religions (non-Christian) > Religious experience > Mysticism
Rumi's great book of wisdom-infused poetry contain myriad lessons
on the importance of faith, with the culture and lessons of
spiritual, Biblical and Islamic teachings featuring strongly. In
authoring his masterwork, Rumi quoted the Qu'ran, the Bible and
several spiritual forebears. Wishing to align his poetry in order
to tell tales of man and man's place in the world, Rumi drew upon a
variety of religious and spiritual sources to create a poetic
compendium of supreme profundity and depth. The Masnavi was praised
as one of the finest works of mystical literature ever seen. It is
in the Masnavi that Persia's place between the spiritual cultures
of Asia and the Middle East is evidenced. Rumi himself, while
undoubtedly an Islamic scholar of great ability, did not feel
confined to the faith; he saw spiritual value in a range of
disciplines, and asserted that the light of Mohammed's prophecy
does not leave faithful Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians or other
denominations behind.
Shaykh Fadhlalla Haeri provides a lucid and inspiring account of
life, death and the hereafter, according to an Islamic Sufi
perspective. The book opens with a wide-ranging sweep of death and
dying as viewed in other cultures and religions - from ancient
Mesopotamian, Egyptian and Zoroastrian sources through to Judaism
and Christianity. Based on the Quran and the Prophetic message,
this book offers a splendid collection of revelations and spiritual
teachings that map a basic path towards a wholesome way of living
without forgetting death. There is both physical and spiritual
death, and death in both instances is seen as a natural bridge from
the suffering and delusions of this life to a unifying and clear
abode. As the reader is led from birth of the ephemeral self on
earth through an unfolding progression towards higher consciousness
and awakening to the eternal soul within, constant awareness of
one's intimate dual nature takes away much of the fear of death and
makes it seem like a familiar companion.
Modern physics has forever changed the way we view and understand
physical reality. With a wide spectrum of theories, from general
relativity to quantum mechanics, our conceptions of the very big
and the very small are no longer intuitively obvious. Many
philosophers, even scientists have expressed the opinion that the
counterintuitive conclusions posited in modern physics are best
understood using spiritual terminology. In the 11 lectures in this
volume, Harav Ginsburgh, one of our generation's foremost scholars,
innovators, and teachers of Kabbalah, reveals how modern physics
reflects foundational concepts in the Torah's inner dimension. A
wide range of topics from relativity (special and general), quantum
mechanics, and string theory are addressed. Elegantly and
gracefully, Harav Ginsburgh's exposition of the topics switches
back and forth between the scientific and Torah perspectives. With
his deep insight, Harav Ginsburgh gives even well-known physical
concepts a refreshing and new treatment. Apart from carefully
drawing parallels and correspondences between the Torah's inner
dimension and modern physics, in these lectures, Harav Ginsburgh
proposes new directions for scientific research into important
areas such as a unified field theory, CPT symmetry, the
relationship between acceleration and gravitation, and the
possibility of uncovering additional dimensions in physical
reality, demonstrating how the Torah's depth can be used to
fertilize science and further our understanding of nature.
Harav Yitzchak Ginsburgh is one of our generation s foremost
expositors of Kabbalah and Chassidut and is the author of over 100
books in Hebrew, English, French, Russian, and Spanish. The
interface between Torah and science is one of the areas in which he
is known for his breakthrough work, forging a path in
revolutionizing the way we think about the relationship between
Judaism and modern science. He is also the founder and dean of the
Ba al Shem Tov School of Jewish Psychology, and his unique approach
to mathematics in Torah is now the basis of a new math curriculum
for Jewish schools.
A study of the life and background of 'Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani,
putative founder of the Qadiriyya order, investigating the sources
for his life and attributed works. The book seeks to elucidate the
ideas of al-Jilani, and to formulate a picture of the most
prominent trends of pious and mystical thought in Baghdad during
the twelfth century, providing a cultural and geographical angle to
the study of Islamic mysticism and piety.
Sufism in America sheds light on spiritual, mystical Islam in
America. The Sufi path focuses on developing a personal
relationship with God, doing what is beautiful in the sight of God,
and struggling against the lower self to reach loving submission.
Up to this point, very little has been written about the Sufi
orders in America and those who participate in them. This study
focuses on the Alami Tariqa in Waterport, New York, which was
started in the 1970s by a shaykh from the Balkans. The Alami Tariqa
strives to uphold sharia while adapting to the Western setting. Its
membership is diverse, consisting mostly of American-born
participants from Christian and Jewish backgrounds, in addition to
a few Muslim immigrants from South Asia. This study explores how
this order has acculturated to the American setting, why
individuals choose to join the tariqa, and what it means to pursue
spiritual goals in a modern, Western society. Conclusions are drawn
from interviews, a survey, and observations of teachings, plus the
author's experience working with this community for over ten years.
The book interweaves personal stories and insider views with
academic insight to provide a compelling and detailed picture of
Sufism as a living and dynamic tradition in America.
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