Sufi : expressions of the mystic quest

Description: "A beautifully illustrated introduction to Sufism, the mystic tradition of Islam. Sufism is the inner dimension of Islam, expressing hidden archetypes in concrete symbols. To the Sufi, both the ritual of the worshipper and the work of the craftsman evoke the life that resides within all things: the preparedness of matter to answer the call of God. The basis of Sufism, as of all Islam, lies in the twin doctrines of the Unity of Being ("There is no god but God") and the Universal Prototype ("Muhammad is the Prophet of God"). Through the Sufi themes of the descending arc of Creation, the foundation of the human soul, and its return through the ascending arc of the Quest, Laleh Bakhtiar brings to light the spiritual reality that underlies the forms and rhythms of the Islamic tradition. Her introduction is suitable for both novice and experienced readers." -- Publisher

Table of Contents:
Part 1. The 'why' of mystical expression:
The beginnings of Sufism
The container and the contained
Creation : the arc of descent
The human soul
The quest : the arc of ascent
Symbolism
Part 2. The 'what' of mystical expression:
The journey to God
The journey in God
The journey through God
Part 3. The 'how' of mystical expression:
Spiritual retreat
Stages of the journey
Spiritual states
Spiritual stations
Presences
Numbers and geometry
Architecture and music
Mystical poetry
The science of letters
Mystical dreams
Cosmology and spiritual astronomy

FY2011 /