Product Description

Although Rumi has become one of America’s favorite poets, very little is known about the underlying metaphysical foundation which illuminates his language. With beautiful illustrations from the world of Persian Sufism, this authoritative introduction opens the door to Rumi’s spiritual universe and it highlights Rumi as a beacon of light whose teaching dispels the shadows which prevent modern man from seeing even his own image in its true form and knowing who he really is. Containing chapters on Sufism and Islam, The Nature of Man, and Operative Sufism, for readers who are already sensitive to the magic of Rumi’s poetry, this succinct book provides the necessary insight required to more fully understand the world of one of the greatest spiritual figures in the history of the world.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #248520 in Books
• Published on: 2005-10-25
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 120 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780941532884
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
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From the Publisher
Received the Bronze Award for ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year in Religion.

Received an Honorable Mention for the Midwest Independent Publishers Association for Religion and Philosophy.

About the Author
William C. Chittick is a professor at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. His works include The Sufi Path of Love: The Spiritual Teachings of Rumi and Sufism: A Short Introduction. He lives in Mount Sinai, NY.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Sufism is the most universal manifestation of the inner dimension of Islam; it is the way by which man transcends his own individual self and reaches God. It provides within the forms of the Islamic revelation the means for an intense spiritual life directed towards the transformation of man’s being and the attainment of the spiritual virtues; ultimately it leads to the vision of God. It is for this reason that many Sufis define Sufism by the saying of the Prophet of Islam concerning spiritual virtue (ihsan): "It is that thou shouldst worship God as if thou sawest Him, for if thou seest Him not, verily He seeth thee."

Customer Reviews

Illustrated Rumi
This is an outstanding overview of the philosophy of Rumi and Sufism generally. It shows how Rumi's views are consistent with other thinkers such as Ibn Arabi. It is excellent on Sufi concepts of Shahadah, the relation between Shariah and Tariqah, theodicy or the question of evil, the universal man and the fallen man, the union with God and the Nafs or ego-carnal self which prevents man from seeing his true nature. The pictures are beautiful and include illustrations from Rumi's life. Chittick was a student of Seyyed Hossein Nasr who writes the introduction.