A Psychology of Early Sufi Sama

'Listening and Altered States,'

*[A5] Paperback - 249 pages,

by Kenneth S. Avery,

Part of the Routledge Sufi Series.

Published by the T. and F. Group.

Description :

A Psychology of Early Sufi Sama'  - Listening and Altered States. This book explores the psychology of altered states among the early Sufis. It examines samâ` - listening to ritual recitation, music and certain other aural phenomena - and its effect in inducing unusual states of consciousness and behaviours.

The focus is on the earliest personalities of the Islamic mystical tradition, as mediated by texts from the tenth to the twelfth centuries C.E. These unusual states are interpreted in the light of current research in Western psychology, and also in terms of their integration into historical Islamic culture.

A Psychology of Early Sufi Samâ` provides new insights into the work of five Sufi authors, and a fresh approach to the relation between historical accounts of altered states and current psychological thinking.

Kenneth S. Avery is a specialist in Sufi studies and Persian literature. He has authored numerous books on Sufism and is a recent Ph.D. graduate in Islamic Studies from the University of Melbourne, Australia

Table of Contents :

---Acknoweldgements,

---Abbreviations.

---[1]. Introduction,

--------Notes.

---[2]. Samâ` in Early Sufi Literature: An Overview,

------The Kitab al-Luma of Abu Nasr al-Sarraj,

------An analysis of al-Sarraj's Kitab al-Sama',

---------The beauty of the human voice,

---------The nature of sama',

---------The legal status of sama',

---------The effects of sama',
---------Qur'an recitation,

---------Poetry and the Qur'an,

---------Sufi novices,

---------Sufi adepts,

---------Sufi masters,

---------Samâ` and wisdom,

---------Pyschology of sama',

---------Opponents of sama',

------An analysis of al-Sarraj's Kitab al-Wajd',

---------The concept of wajd,

---------Attempted ecstatic experience,

---------Physical effects of wajd,

---------Wajd according to Abu Said b. al-Arabi,

------The writings of Abu Abd al-Rahman al-Sulami,

---------Sama' and wajd in the Tabaqat al-Sufiya,

------The minor writings of al-Sulami,

------Al-Qushayri and his Risala,

------The chapter on sama' in the Risala,

------Al-Ghazali and the Ihya Ulum al-Din,

------The legal focus of al-Ghazali,

------The epistemological emphasis,

------Qur'anic recital and the arousal of emotion,

------The decorum of 'listening' sessions,

------Al-Hujwiri and the Kashf al-Mahjub,

--------Sama' in the Kashf al-Mahjub,

--------Wajd and related topics in the Kashf al-Mahjub,

------Al-Attar and the Tadhkirat al-Awliya,

------Notes.

---[3]. The Language of Samâ` and Other Key Concepts,

------Sama'

---------Al-Sarraj,

---------Al-Sulami,

---------Al-Qushayri,

---------Al-Ghazali,

---------Al-Hujwiri,

---------Al-Attar,

------Wajd,

---------Al-Ghazali,

---[4]. The Psychology of Samâ`  Part 1 

------Introduction,

------Description of the evidence,

------Analysis of the evidence for physical and behavioural effects;

---------A. Healing effect,

---------B. Joyful, pleasurable feelings,

---------C. Unspecified arousal,

---------D. Rising in ecstasy,

---------E. Ecstatic utterances,

---------F. Making face to glow,

---------G. Loss of colour,

---------H. Suppression of appetite,

---------I. Perspiring,

---------J. Tremor, agitation,

---------K. Sighing, groaning, crying out,

---------L. Weeping,

---------M. Loss of sensitivity to pain,

---------N. Fainting, loss of consciousness,

---------O. Restless wandering,

---------P. Loss of voluntary control of limbs,

---------Q. Throwing oneself (or being thrown) to the ground,

---------R. Attempt at suicide,

---------S. Sudden death.

---------The contributory factors,

---[5]. The Psychology of Samâ`  Part 2

------Summary of Behaviour ; Contributory Factors,

---------The contributory factors,

---------Types of secondary factors,

------------Dissociation,

------------Stress and anxiety factors,

------------Physiological factors,

------------'Everyday' explanations,

------------Social and cultural factors,

---------Rouget's analysis of trance and its applicability,

-------Notes.

---[6]. The Psychology of Samâ` According to the Sufi Writers,

------The view of al-Sarraj,

------The view of al-Ghazali,

------The value of these psychological views,

------Notes.

---[7]. The Sufis' Explanations of their Altered State Experiences,

------Plain description,

------Response to hearing verse recited,

------Enigmatic utterances,

------Visions of paradise,

------Notes.

---[8]. The Ritual Behaviour and Etiquette of Samâ` 

------Restrictions on and qualifications of participants

---[9]. The Paradigmatic Experience of Two 'Ecstatics', al-Nûrî and al-Shiblî,

------A brief life of Abu'l-Husayn al-Nuri,

---[10]. Conclusions.

-------Notes.

---Bibliography,

---Index.

Homepage for Sufism.

*Dimensions : 21.5 x 13.9cm.