Sufi: Expressions of the Mystic Quest"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. |
Contents
The Why of Mystical Expression | 6 |
THE CONTAINER AND THE CONTAINED | 7 |
The World of Archetypes | 13 |
Copyright | |
5 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
Sufi: Expressions of the Mystic Quest ; with 137 Illustrations, 30 in Color Laleh Bakhtiar No preview available - 1976 |
Common terms and phrases
A. J. Arberry Absolute active al-Din Alī arabesque Archetypes architecture Ardalan ascent aspect awakened bazaar become Bektashi body Breath calligraphy centre Compassionate concept consciousness contains contemplation corresponds cosmic Cosmic Tree cosmological creation descends Divine Essence Divine Grace Divine Name Divine Presence doctrine existence expressed feminine principle Firdawsi fountain Garden gateway gathering Heaven human form Ibn Arabī inner Intellect intelligible intuition invocation invoke Iran Isfahan Islam journey khalwat known Konya light Logos macrocosmic manifested Martin Lings masculine principle Mathnawi means meditation melodies mihrab mirror moon motion Muhammad multiplicity mystic Nader Ardalan nature nodal spaces one's particular passive Persian phenomenal world poetry prayer preparedness Prophet psychic Quest Quran reality reflects relates reveals rhythm sensible shadow Shaykh Simurgh soul spiritual Heart stage Sufi Sufism symmetry Throne tradition transcendent transformation tree Universal Prototype veil verse vision Word world of Archetypes world of symbols فاعلاتن فعولن