Although the lessons are not original, their presentations are. One of the first to return to europe as an official representative of a sufi order, and with the specific purpose to spread sufism in western europe, was the swedishborn wandering sufi ivan agueli. It is not necessary to read islamic spiritiuality books only when you are in search of sufism. Jason webster on why the republication of idries shah book about sufism. According to the journal of near eastern studies, it is one of the most thorough and intimately engaging books on sufism to be produced by a western scholar. Path of the spiritual traveler in everyday life bitkoff, stewart on. What this book is, is a journey and a guide, from a teacher and a friend, for persons seeking the next step in their own conscious development. If you have read bitkoffs sufism for western seekers, you will find many of the same lessons presented in the ferrymans dream.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. As bitkoff repeatedly says in the book, it is the religion before religion. This book investigates the development of sufism in western societies, with a regional focus on north america and europe. Sufism is a dynamic and substantial presence within british muslim communities and is influencing both religious and political discourses concerning the formation of islam in britain. The arabic term sufi has been used in islamic literature with a wide range of meanings, by both proponents and opponents of sufism. Sufism, mystical islamic belief and practice in which muslims seek the truth of divine love and knowledge through direct personal experience of god.
Path of the spiritual traveler in everyday life by dr. This book describes learning in 2 modern western mystical sufi schools, which were independent of islam and the traditional sufi orders. Bringing together leading international authorities to survey the history of islamic mysticism in north america and europe, this book elaborates the. A number of westerners have embarked with varying degrees of success on the path of sufism. For many western spiritual seekers, sufism is often misunderstood and viewed as an islamic mystical tradition presented through various sufi orders. The essence of sufism available at mecca books the islamic. Sulaymancis in germany gerdien jonker third wave sufism in america and the bawa muhaiyaddeen fellowship gisela webb transnational sufism. Bitkoff is an avid student of sufi mysticism and the perennial philosophy. Sufism for western seekers is not a historical or theological work about sufism written for the academic market. Sufism and western vipassana meditation dhamma wheel. For the spiritual traveler who wishes to follow the sufi path, the following 10 learning principles represent some of the dimensions to this ancient form of learning. Apr 18, 2006 although sufism has always provoked considerable interest in the west, no volume has so far been written which discusses this aspect of islam in terms of how it is practised in western societies. Western academics and muslims, elites and masses, outsiders and insidersall are brought together in this insightful survey of sufi discourse, practice, community, institutions, and leadership.
All the attempts made by true sages and seekers after real truth are for the one aim of attaining to everlasting life. Introduction jamal malik 1 literary productions of western sufi movements marcia hermansen 2 persian sufism in the contemporary west. Islamsu sm is masterpiece by titus burckhardt examines. Robert frager says, in essential sufism, about such stories and jokes p. Yet this ancient path of spiritual knowing is much broader and older, available through all religions and independent of islam and these orders. The second trend involves high concept meanderings in revisionist islamic, european, and american history.
In the instance of new age sufism, faddish imitations of esoteric islamic traditions are adopted by western spiritual seekers. Books on sufism by shaykh taner ansari the sun will rise in the west. In this personal, semibiographic spiritual guide, sufism itself is redefined as being older. The seeking of the seekers is the trace of the pull of the puller.
An account of this sort of learning is available in. This is a section from a book im writing on western gurus and masters. The forty rules of love by elif shafak, the conference of the birds by attar of nishapur, the essential rumi by rumi, the sufis. Bitkoff peels back the inner world of sufism for the western reader. Fons vitae publishes high quality books on islam, sufism, and spirituality. Infact islamic spirituality books are those books that increases you in imaan and instill in you deep understanding of faith. When you embark upon the journey towards sufism, be prepared to discover the peace of the inner life and the discipline of mystical spirituality. What was offered was a generic spirituality that is the birth right of all. Threshold books for books on sufism, consciousness, and traditional wisdom from the threshold society, headed by kabir and camille helminski. Talk show guest appearance, conversations with advant garde sages. Sufism for the western seeker, published in 2011, was nominated by foreword magazine for adult non fiction religious book of year book of the year award, placing 4 th honorable mention and is a must read. In america today, online spaces serve as critical alternatives for techsavvy muslims seeking a place to root their faith, forge religious identity, and build communities. Review of sufism for western seekers 9780615562803. Path of the spiritual traveler in everyday life bitkoff.
The authors personal journey and humor make this book a ray of spiritual sunshine. Introduction jamal malik literary productions of western sufi movements marcia hermansen persian sufism in the contemporary west leonard lewisohn the evolution of the naqshbandimujaddidi. The sufi book of life 99 pathways of the heart for the modern. Mark sedgwicks western sufism presents key elements of the reception and conceptualization of sufism in european and american eyes over the long duree. Sufism for the western seeker is his most recent book, and chronicles. A list of books to increase islamic spirituality islam. It is the duty of every muslim to attain tazkiyah and nearness of allah the exalted. This work can be seen as a useful companion to elements of his previous book, against the modern world oxford university press, 2004, as part of a greatly needed attempt to historicize euroamerican views of islamic mysticism. Both represent attempts to respond to the islamist challenge without recourse to politics or the military. Path of the spiritual traveler in everyday life kindle edition by bitkoff, stewart. Classical sufi texts, which stressed certain teachings and practices of the quran and the sunnah. Stewart bitkoff for the spiritual traveler who wishes to follow the sufi path, the following 10 learning principles represent some of the dimensions to this ancient form of learning. Professionally specializing in the healing applications of. This book chronicles learning in 2 modern western sufi schools.
Shaping ones reality and directing ones thoughts and actions are among the mystical teachings within dr. Before reading sufism for western seekers, my knowledge of sufism was basic at best. This book investigates the development of sufism in western. Click download or read online button to get treatise for the seekers of guidance book now. Almost a prerequisite for any serious study of sufism in european languages. As far as i am aware, this is the first history of western sufism though i should emphasize that my focus is always. It is fine to read widely and become acquainted with various traditions, but to be a sufi is much more than to have a preference for reading sufi books or listening to sufi music. In addition, the current perception of sufism by many nonmuslims and muslims alike is that of an apostate branch of islam shunned and even persecuted by the orthodox sunni and shia establishment. Two aspects of sufism well known in western culture are, of course, rumi and the whirling dervishes. Aldous huxley had popularized the term perennial philosophy in his book of the same.
I found this book easy to read and understand and both writing and content. The retreat includes hotel accommodation and all meals from friday 6. While the garden of truth is a summary it is not simply another academic appraisal. This book investigates the development of sufism in western societies. While exploring the spiritual and psychological processes of transformation, this book offers practical guidelines to help the seeker. Samsel said, the most typical misrepresentation of sufism is that it is not authentically islamic, whether this is claimed by muslim fundamentalists, muslim modernists, or western spiritual seekers. Instead, this book is recommended for anyone seeking an easily relatable introduction to mystical thought and spiritual selfhelp practices from someone who has spent his life on a spiritual journey. This, too, is in keeping with the teachings of both books. Why is sufism so compelling to both spiritual seekers and scholars. Neither book purports to teach anything particularly new. Path of the spiritual traveler in everyday life, dr.
Sufism in the west chapter 10 the cambridge companion to. Announcing the launch of a new book on sufism sufi. The holy trail this primer on sufism is written especially for western readers who are looking for a comprehensive explanation of the principles and practice of this ancient spiritual path. There are thousands of books written on this genre. Scholars can also mine it for its crystal clear information. Providing a fascinating insight into how sufism operates within different spheres of society, sufism in the west is essential reading for students and academics with research interests in islam, islamic history and social anthropology.
The transformation of the heart gives a clear and accessible outline of sufism. This volume provides an objective analysis of current trends and developments in the beliefs and practices of sufis in britain. With the increasing muslim diaspora in postmodern western societies, sufism intellectually as well as sociologically may eventually become islam itself due to its versatile potential. While summarizing the basic doctrines of sufism, its historical unfolding, its luminaries and prerogatives nasr also draws a basic map of the path for the potential wayfarer. The sufi book of life 99 pathways of the heart for the modern dervish by neil. All the attempts made by true sages and seekers after real truth are for. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading sufism for western seekers. Kazi publications online catalog has for sale one of the best stocks of sufi books and books on islamlink fixed 20 august. In my considered view, here is a book to be read by all seekers of the. Announcing the launch of a new book on sufism sufi experience of god. In recent years sufism has undergone something of a revival as a spiritual alternative to other manifestations of islam.
Sulaymancis in germany gerdien jonker 4 third wave sufism in america and the bawa muhaiyaddeen fellowship gisela webb 5. Hardcover book for love of the real is a detailed description of the mystical journey to absolute truth from llewellyn vaughanlee, a sufi teacher whose earlier books include alchemy of light and return of the feminine and the world soul. Anything that moves me towards the light is of the light, this book can be applied to any spiritual. Modernday seekers after truth will find no better source of guidance and study material than the writings of idries shah. Not surprisingly, with the popularity of new age spirituality there has been increased interest in sufism among western seekers. The sufis has great impact both as a source of historical facts and as a wellspring of developmental material for those who see it that way. Though there had been previous studies of sufism in western. However, the term sufism has widely been defined as islamic mysticism that prescribes a true love of god which can only be generated by marifa gnosis, or knowing god properly. A basic outline of the book follows and you will see that the present article is part of the vertica l chronology from ch. It consists of mystical paths that are designed to learn the nature of humanity and of god and to facilitate the experience of the presence of divine love and wisdom.
Among the general western public, sufism has often been confused with the mystical traditions of the far east, and thus considered an independent religion without ties to islam. Download masnavi rumi, saadi, hafiz, khayam, attar in pdf format. A special treat for those interested in the adaptation of islam to modern western society, the volume offers an opportunity to better understand both the spiritual dimension and the lived circumstances of sufism in britain today. He is the author of more than a dozen books about sufism and spirituality and has exercised a huge influence amongst western seekers over the last forty years. A history of sufism for western readers the fountain. Sufi stories as told by idries shah the western sufism teacher. Path of the spiritual traveler in everyday life at. Treatise for the seekers of guidance download ebook pdf.
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