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Books > Humanities > Religion & beliefs > Aspects of religions (non-Christian) > Religious experience > Mysticism
What is Sufism? Contemporary views vary tremendously, even among
Sufis themselves. Contemporary Sufism: Piety, Politics, and Popular
Culture brings to light the religious frameworks that shape the
views of Sufism's friends, adversaries, admirers, and detractors
and, in the process, helps readers better understand the diversity
of contemporary Sufism, the pressures and cultural openings to
which it responds, and the many divergent opinions about
contemporary Sufism's relationship to Islam. The three main themes:
piety, politics, and popular culture are explored in relation to
the Islamic and Western contexts that shape them, as well as to the
historical conditions that frame contemporary debates. This book is
split into three parts: * Sufism and anti-Sufism in contemporary
contexts; * Contemporary Sufism in the West: Poetic influences and
popular manifestations; * Gendering Sufism: Tradition and
transformation. This book will fascinate anyone interested in the
challenges of contemporary Sufism as well as its relationship to
Islam, gender, and the West. It offers an ideal starting point from
which undergraduate and postgraduate students, teachers and
lecturers can explore Sufism today.
Recently updated and expanded, this collection of early Sufi
writings, drawn from northeastern Iran, elucidates the beliefs of a
small circle of disciples called the People of Blame. Of interest
to modern scholars for the contrasting beliefs of this sect with
later Sufi practices, the works--as well as the larger
philosophical tenants of the People of Blame--forbid individualism
while espousing the acceptance of blame as the key to obtaining
intimate knowledge of God. Other topics discussed by these early
authors include the role of Sharia laws and the embrace of poverty
among the People of Blame.
Recently updated and expanded, this collection of scholarly
translations of early Sufi writings, drawn from northeastern Iran,
elucidates the beliefs of a small circle of disciples called the
People of Blame. Of interest to modern scholars for the contrasting
beliefs of this sect with later Sufi practices, the works--as well
as the larger philosophical tenants of the People of Blame--forbid
individualism while espousing the acceptance of blame as the key to
obtaining intimate knowledge of God. Other topics discussed by
these early authors include the role of Sharia laws and the embrace
of poverty among the People of Blame.
The world faces a crisis of meaning. The old stories - whether the
exclusive claims of rival religions or the grand schemes of
perennial philosophy - seem bankrupt to many. The editorial stance
of this book is that mysticism and science offer a way forward
here, but only if they abandon the idol of a single logical
synthesis and acknowledge the diversity of different ways of
knowing. The contributors, from disciplines as diverse as music,
psychology, mathematics and religion, build a vision that honours
diversity while pointing to an implicit unity.
SUFISM THE WAY OF SUFI CHIVALRY A highly respected Sufi saint and
scholar of the 10th century, Ibn al-Husayn al-Sulami compiled this
book as a guide to enlightened behavior for the spiritual aspirant.
In its pages, he records the teachings of renowned spiritual
masters (available for the first time in English translation) as
well as tales and quotations from the Koran and Hadith. The
teachings reveal the true meaning of compassion, love, friendship,
generosity, and hospitality, as well as the right actions
associated with these virtues. According to the Sufis, Futuwwah is
a code of honorable behavior that follows the example of the
prophets, saints, and sages. By adhering to its precepts, the
student learns detachment from the ego. The Way of Sufi Chivalry
addresses the reader directly, providing the aspirant of today with
living guidance on the path of perfection and the way of Sufism.
Cover illustration: The Turkish calligraphy is an invocation for
the help and assistance of Hasan and Husayn, the two martyred
grandsons of the Prophet, and reads Madad ya Hasan Husayn.
"Al-Ghazali on Love, Longing, Intimacy and Contentment" is the
thirty-sixth chapter of Abu Hamid al-Ghazali's "Revival of the
Religious Sciences" (Ihya Ulum al-Din), which is widely regarded as
the greatest work of Muslim spirituality. "Al-Ghazali on Love,
Longing, Intimacy and Contentment" is of fundamental importance in
the history of Islamic thought and in the development of Sufism,
being the first treatise to establish not merely the possibility
but the necessity for the love of God.---In "Al-Ghazali on Love,
Longing, Intimacy and Contentment", Ghazali argues that all the
virtues and spiritual stages that precede love, like repentance,
patience and thankfulness, lead to love; and all the spiritual
stages that follow on from love are a result of it. Using proof
texts from the Qur'an, the Traditions of the Prophet Muhammad and
Sufi precepts, Ghazali succeeds in marshalling forceful arguments
to make his case. Out of Ghazali's pioneering treatment would
emerge not only new trends in Sufi theory and practice, but an
entire body of mystical poetry including that of the great Persian
poets Rumi and Hafiz.---Professor Eric Ormsby's fully annotated
translation brings out all the beauty and lyricism of the text. The
translation is preceded by an extensive introduction which sets the
work in its historical and spiritual context.---In this new
edition, the Islamic Texts Society has included the translation of
Abu Hamid al-Ghazali's own Introduction to the "Revival of the
Religious Sciences" which gives the reasons that caused him to
write the work, the structure of the whole of the "Revival" and
places each of the chapters in the context of the others.
"Hasidism Incarnate" contends that much of modern Judaism in the
West developed in reaction to Christianity and in defense of
Judaism as a unique tradition. Ironically enough, this occurred
even as modern Judaism increasingly dovetailed with Christianity
with regard to its ethos, aesthetics, and attitude toward ritual
and faith. Shaul Magid argues that the Hasidic movement in Eastern
Europe constitutes an alternative "modernity," one that opens a new
window on Jewish theological history. Unlike Judaism in German
lands, Hasidism did not develop under a "Christian gaze" and had no
need to be apologetic of its positions. Unburdened by an apologetic
agenda (at least toward Christianity), it offered a particular
reading of medieval Jewish Kabbalah filtered through a focus on the
charismatic leader that resulted in a religious worldview that has
much in common with Christianity. It is not that Hasidic masters
knew about Christianity; rather, the basic tenets of Christianity
remained present, albeit often in veiled form, in much kabbalistic
teaching that Hasidism took up in its portrayal of the charismatic
figure of the "zaddik," whom it often described in supernatural
terms.
'The pen would smoothly write the things it knew But when it came
to love it split in two, A donkey stuck in mud is logic's fate -
Love's nature only love can demonstrate.' Rumi's Masnavi is widely
recognized as the greatest Sufi poem ever written, and has been
called 'the Koran in Persian'. The thirteenth-century Muslim mystic
Rumi composed his work for the benefit of his disciples in the Sufi
order named after him, better known as the whirling dervishes. In
order to convey his message of divine love and unity he threaded
together entertaining stories and penetrating homilies. Drawing
from folk tales as well as sacred history, Rumi's poem is often
funny as well as spiritually profound. Jawid Mojaddedi's sparkling
new verse translation of Book One is consistent with the aims of
the original work in presenting Rumi's most mature mystical
teachings in simple and attractive rhyming couplets. ABOUT THE
SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made
available the widest range of literature from around the globe.
Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship,
providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable
features, including expert introductions by leading authorities,
helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for
further study, and much more.
Focusing on the Maijbhandari movement in Chittagong, south-eastern
Bangladesh, which claims the status of the only Sufi order
originated in Bengal and which has gained immense popularity in
recent years, this book provides a comprehensive picture of an
important aspect of contemporary Bengali Islam in the South Asian
context. Expertise in South Asian languages and literatures is
combined with ethnographic field work and theoretical formulations
from a range of disciplines, including cultural anthropology,
Islamic studies and religious studies. Analysing the Maijbhandaris
tradition of Bengali spiritual songs, one of the largest popular
song traditions in Bengal, the book presents an in-depth study of
Bengali Sufi theology, hagiography and Maijbhandari esoteric songs,
as well as a discussion of what Bengali Islam is. It is a useful
contribution to South Asia Studies, as well as Islamic Studies.
Isaac Luria (1534-1572) is one of the most extraordinary and
influential mystical figures in the history of Judaism, a visionary
teacher who helped shape the course of nearly all subsequent Jewish
mysticism. Given his importance, it is remarkable that this is the
first scholarly work on him in English. Most studies of Lurianic
Kabbalah focus on Luria’s mythic and speculative ideas or on the
ritual and contemplative practices he taught. The central premise
of this book is that Lurianic Kabbalah was first and foremost a
lived and living phenomenon in an actual social world. Thus the
book focuses on Luria the person and on his relationship to his
disciples. What attracted Luria’s students to him? How did they
react to his inspired and charismatic behavior? And what roles did
Luria and his students see themselves playing in their collective
quest for repair of the cosmos and messianic redemption?
Martin Lings provides an excellent and authoritative introduction
to the mystical movement of the Sufis based on his lifelong
interest in Islamic culture. His explanation derives from a
profound understanding of Sufism, and extends to many aspects which
are usually neglected. His illuminating answer to 'What is Sufism?'
gives a taste of the very subject matter itself. What do Sufis
believe? What do they aim at? What do they do? Unlike other writers
on the subject, Martin Lings treats all the three questions with
equal justice. He is thus able to give a wealth of answers to the
main question 'What is Sufism?', each answer being from a different
angle but all going to the root of the matter. A reviewer wrote
'Should the book appear in paperback, I would use it for
undergraduate and graduate courses on Islamic civilization', and in
fact 'What is Sufism?' has become a set book in colleges and
universities on both sides of the Atlantic. It is now accepted as
the authoritative statement on the subject of Sufism and it has
been translated into French, German, Italian and Spanish. It has
also been published in Sarajevo in Bosnian, and is available in
Braille.
'Joking is teaching, so take care to listen - Don't look at just
the joke's form of expression. To jesters every serious thing's
hilarious, While to the wise hilarious jokes are serious' Rumi is
the greatest mystic poet to have written in Persian, and the
Masnavi is his masterpiece. Divided into six books and consisting
of some 26,000 verses, the poem was designed to convey a message of
divine love and unity to the disciples of Rumi's Sufi order, known
today as the Whirling Dervishes. Like the earlier books, Book Four
interweaves amusing stories with homilies to instruct pupils in
understanding of God's meaning. It has a special focus on the
mystical knowledge of the spiritual guide, elaborated through
stories such as Solomon's freeiration to the Queen of Sheba, and
animal fables. This is the first ever verse translation of Book
Four of the Masnavi. It follows the original by presenting Rumi's
most mature mystical teachings in simple and attractive rhyming
couplets.
A document of paramount historical importance, not only in terms of
Christianity but also with respect to the development of Western
religion. It chronicles the teachings of Jesus, who explains life's
mysteries to his disciples and Mary Magdalene. Their discussions
take place after Christ's resurrection and include accounts of his
ascension into heaven.
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Centuries
(Hardcover)
Thomas Traherne; Introduction by Michael Martin
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One of America's finest living poets has breathed new life into the
early Christian mystics. From Saint Paul to Julian of Norwich, the
original texts of these mystical fathers and mothers of the Church
have been pored over, pressed for further revelation, and set in
verse to provide readers with fresh encounters of their wisdom and
provocations. At the heart of this undertaking is Scott Cairns'
conviction that the words of the mystics sacramentally partake of
the Word Himself, and as such are inexhaustible, generative powers.
These particular selections cohere in their common claim that Love
is the most compelling name of God, and also the most apt attribute
of the Holy One in Whom we live and move and have our being. In
that spirit, these luminous texts are understood to partake of
Love, and concurrently to witness to His presence and His promise
that, as "our Courteous Lord" averred to Julian, "All will be well,
all will be well, all manner of things will be well."
This is a multi-volume collection by leading authors in Islamic
Studies. The volumes were originally published between 1867 and
1987. The collection reprints texts carefully selected on the basis
of their influence and prestige, written by pre-eminent scholars of
Islamic history, philosophy and religion. The majority of the
volumes reprint the original, first editions, but where
appropriate, updated, enlarged editions are sometimes selected.
In 1913, Russian imperial marines stormed an Orthodox monastery
at Mt. Athos, Greece, to haul off monks engaged in a dangerously
heretical practice known as Name Worshipping. Exiled to remote
Russian outposts, the monks and their mystical movement went
underground. Ultimately, they came across Russian intellectuals who
embraced Name Worshipping and who would achieve one of the biggest
mathematical breakthroughs of the twentieth century, going beyond
recent French achievements.
Loren Graham and Jean-Michel Kantor take us on an exciting
mathematical mystery tour as they unravel a bizarre tale of
political struggles, psychological crises, sexual complexities, and
ethical dilemmas. At the core of this book is the contest between
French and Russian mathematicians who sought new answers to one of
the oldest puzzles in math: the nature of infinity. The French
school chased rationalist solutions. The Russian mathematicians,
notably Dmitri Egorov and Nikolai Luzin who founded the famous
Moscow School of Mathematics were inspired by mystical insights
attained during Name Worshipping. Their religious practice appears
to have opened to them visions into the infinite and led to the
founding of descriptive set theory.
The men and women of the leading French and Russian
mathematical schools are central characters in this absorbing tale
that could not be told until now. "Naming Infinity" is a poignant
human interest story that raises provocative questions about
science and religion, intuition and creativity.
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