The Reflective Heart

 The Reflective Heart -  Discovering Spiritual Intelligence in ibn 'Arabi's 'Meccan Illuminations.'
Paperback - 424 pages,
by James Winston Morris.



For centuries Ibn 'Arabi, May Allah be pleased with him, has been considered the "Greatest Master" of Islamic spiritual teaching, but Western readers have only recently had access to his greatest writings.


This introduction to Ibn 'Arabi's 'Meccan Illuminations' highlights the mysticism and realization of Sufi spiritual life, providing an intellectually penetrating look without requiring specialized knowledge. The development of several key themes and modes of reflection in Ibn 'Arabi's spiritual teachings are explored as are the gradually unfolding meanings that distinguish this important classical text of Sufi practice.


The Reflective Heart is about the ways we gradually discover the deeper significance of all the familiar elements of our everyday life-not just those memorable moments we ordinarily view as "spiritual". Spiritual intelligence-the illuminating interplay of our uniquely individual experience, reflection, and practice-is at the heart of every world religious tradition, and Ibn 'Arabi is renowned for his ability to communicate the unfolding dimensions of this fundamental human task. His Meccan Illuminations provide a powerful spiritual mirror for each reader's own experiences, while highlighting those larger perspectives that ultimately give meaning and direction to our life.


In The Reflective Heart, James Morris provides numerous keys for those who would like to open up their hearts to the vast panorama of spiritual instruction provided by al-Shaykh al-Akbar, "the Greatest Master." No other book demonstrates so clearly the universality of Ibn Arabi's concerns and their contemporary applicability. A must-read for every serious seeker. _{---William Chittick, SUNY}.

 
In this compelling and insightful book, James Morris takes us to the spiritual core of the Islamic tradition, as we come to see the heart as the meeting ground between the Divine and that which is most human in all of us. Here the heart reveals itself as a dynamic & transformative faculty, where the discovery of one's own true self is wed to the intimate knowing of God._{---Omid Safi, Colgate University}.

 
No one surpasses James Morris in his ability to make the most sublime and esoteric subjects intelligible and practicable. Among the many gifts of this book is that it highlights for our own time the urgent need for spiritual discernment. _{---Kabir Helminski, Threshold Foundation}.