Turning toward the Heart - Awakening the Sufi Way,
*[A5] Paperback - 179 pages,
Forty Questions & Answers with 'Shaykh al-Tariqat' Hazrat Asad Rasool,
Introduction by Dr. Kenneth Honerkamp,
Published by Fons Vitate, USA.
Description :
'Turning Toward the Heart' poses forty questions about sufism and the Naqshbandi-Mujaddiddi path with straightforward, lucid answers by an authentic, experienced teacher, Hazrat Azad Rasool. The author contextualises sufism within a larger sphere of spiritual transformation, making this book useful for anyone searching for a spiritual teacher, e.g., the responsibilities of a teacher and the qualities necessary for an aspirant.
It is impressive to see how the Mujaddidi teachings have been transmitted faithfully from the founder-figure Shaykh Ahmad Sirhindi, may Allah be pleased with him, (d. 1624) with skillful adaptation to the modern West. In the range of topics presented, seekers, students of sufism, and scholars will find nuggets of wisdom distilled from Hazrat Azad Rasool's decades of experience working with hundreds of students from all over the world.
The book also contains a useful appendix in which all of the shaykhs of each lineage, their dates and the places where they lived and taught going back to the seventh century are listed. (Shadhiliyyah, Chishtiyyah, Qadiriyyah, Naqshbandiyah and Mujaddidiyyah.)
Reviews :
“This work, in its accessible question and answer format, offers profound insights into the practical day to day aspects (practice-oriented teachings) of the master-disciple relationship, from the lips of a living master of the Naqshabandi Sufi Order.”
---from the preface by Dr. Kenneth Honerkamp, University of Georgia.
“This new book is useful both as a university classroom text and as an intimate introduction to a present-day authentic Sufi master whose spiritual lineage is directly traced back along the great silsilahs (or chains) of saints belonging to five prominent Sufi orders. In his introduction, Dr. Honerkamp makes accessible to the modern reader the wisdom presented in this magnificent contribution by a great contemporary spiritual master.”
---Dr. Alan Godlas, Associate Professor of Religion and Islamic Studies, University of Georgia.
As Hazrat states, "The hidden power of the Self that Sufis seek to
utilise is love. It is love that frees human beings from the bonds of
narrow-mindedness, materialism, and selfishness." In a world driven more
by fear than love, this is a very timely book. ---Arthur Buehler, Philosophy & Religious Studies, Louisiana State University.
Table of Contents :
---Preface by Kenneth Honerkamp,
---Biography of the Author by Ahmed Abdur Rashid,
The Questions Answered :
---Opening Remarks,
Part 1: General Topics,
---[1]. Sufism,
---[2]. Comparing Mystical Paths,
---[3]. Choosing a Path
---[4]. Sufism's Popularity in the West,
---[5]. Western Conditioning,
---[6]. Personal Transformation,
---[7]. Humanism and Humanitarianism,
---[8]. Global Issues,
---[9]. Stress, Angst, and Depression,
---[10]. Psychotherapy,
---[11]. Gurdjieff's Teachings,
---[12]. Women's Roles,
---[13]. Factors for Success on the Journey,
---[14]. Difficulties on the Spiritual Path,
---[15]. Love and Transformation,
---[16]. Progress
---[17]. Sufi Lifestyles,
---[18]. Students' Attainments Past and Present,
---[19]. The Length of the Journey,
---[20]. Group Study,
---[21]. Sufi Practices in Daily Life,
---[22]. Qualities Developed by the Aspirant,
---[23]. Transferring Sufism to the West.
Part 2 : In-Depth Explorations & Technical Explanations :
---[24]. Islam's Role in the Path of the Sufi,
---[25]. Sources of Sufism,
---[26]. Sufi Orders (Tariqahs),
---[27]. Sufism's Role in Muslim Life,
---[28]. Initiation (Bay'ah),
---[29]. Student-Teacher Relationship,
---[30]. Academic Study of Sufism,
---[31]. Centers of Consciousness (Lata'if),
---[32]. ''Where Others End, There Marks Our Beginning''
---[33]. Transmission (Tawajjuh) and Affinity (Nisbah),
---[34]. Meditation (Muraqabah),
---[35]. Awakening the Heart,
---[36]. Remembrance (Dhikr),
---[37]. Finding Time for Self-Refinement,
---[38]. Sayyid `Abd al-Bari Shah,
---[39]. Realisations on the Path,
---[40]. Sufism and the Future,
---Notes :
---Appendix A : Shajarahs -
------(Lineage Trees) of the Mujaddidi, Naqshbandi, Qadiri, Chishti, and Shadhili Orders,
---Appendix B: Shajarahs (Lineage Trees) with Sufi Masters' Dates and Locations.
* Dimensions : 15.2 x 1.3 x 22.9 cm