The Taste of Hidden Things

The Taste of Hidden Things : New,
'Images on the Sufi Path'
[A5] Paperback - 285 pages,
by Dr Sara Sviri,
Published by Golden Sufi Centre, USA.

 

Now in Stock February 2024

 

Description : 

In The Taste of Hidden Things Sara Sviri weaves a tapestry in which Sufi motifs and images are highlighted: the perfume of Attar's and Rumi's poetry, the boldness of Ibn al-Arabi's mystical speculation, the ecstatic experiences and dreams of old and modern seekers, and the richness of the Naqshbandi masters, past and present. A special place is given to al-Hakim at-Tirmidhi, a ninth century mystic from Central Asia. Many passages from his work, including his wife’s teaching dreams, are published here for the first time in English.
 

This book is based on Dr. Sviri's understanding of the Sufi tradition. This understanding has grown through her exposure to original Sufi texts, her interest in depth psychology and dreams, and her practical work along the lines and teaching of the Naqshbandi tradition.
 

Ibn al-'Arabî, the 13th-century Andalusian mystic, whose formulations of mystical knowledge have left a lasting impression on the Sufi tradition, describes the paradoxical nature of that hidden knowledge to which, "until it is unveiled instant by instant," consciousness has no access. He writes:
 

            " God deposited within man knowledge of all things, then prevented him from perceiving what He had deposited within him. This is one of the divine mysteries which reason denies and considers totally impossible. The nearness of this mystery to those ignorant of it is like God's nearness to His servant, as mentioned in His words, "We are nearer to him than you, but you do not see" (56:85) and His words, "We are nearer to him than the jugular vein" (50:16). In spite of this nearness, the person does not perceive and does not know. No one knows what is within himself until it is unveiled to him instant by instant. "

 

Sara Sviri, Ph.D., studied Arabic and Islamic studies at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, where she later taught in the Department of Arabic Studies. She currently holds the Catherine Lewis Lectureship in Medieval Studies at University College, London, England. For many years, Sara lectured extensively in Europe and the United States on Sufism.



 

 

Table of Contents : 

---Dedication,
---Preface,

---Chapter [1]: The Niche of Light,

---Chapter [2]: Effort & the Effortless Path,

---Chapter [3]: Dreams & Destiny,

---Chapter [4]: Where the Two Seas Meet: the Story of Khidr,

---Chapter [5]: Eros & the Mystical Quest,

---Chapter [6]; Dhikr,

---Chapter [7[: The Colour of Water,

---Chapter [8[: Sufi Ethics & Etiquette,

---Chapter [9]: "It is the Function Which Creates the Organ"


Appendix :
---Notes,
---Bibliography,
------Index of Qur'anic Verses,
---About the Author.

 

 

 

More Sufism books,
Also see Naqshbandiyya books.

 

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Dimensions : 21 x 14 x 2cm.