For centuries Ibn ‘Arabi 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.
Beloved guru Ram Dass tells the story of his spiritual awakening and gives you the tools to take control of your life in this “counterculture bible” (The New York Times) featuring powerful guidance on yoga, meditation, and finding your true self. When Be Here Now was first published in 1971, it filled a deep spiritual emptiness, launched the ongoing mindfulness revolution, and established Ram Dass as perhaps the preeminent seeker of the twentieth century. Just ten years earlier, he was known as Professor Richard Alpert. He held appointments in four departments at Harvard University. He published books, drove a Mercedes and regularly vacationed in the Caribbean. By most societal standards, he had achieved great success. . . . And yet he couldn’t escape the feeling that something was missing. Psilocybin and LSD changed that. During a period of experimentation, Alpert peeled away each layer of his identity, disassociating from himself as a professor, a social cosmopolite, and lastly, as a physical being. Fear turned into exaltation upon the realization that at his truest, he was just his inner-self: a luminous being that he could trust indefinitely and love infinitely. And thus, a spiritual journey commenced. Alpert headed to India where his guru renamed him Baba Ram Dass—“servant of God.” He was introduced to mindful breathing exercises, hatha yoga, and Eastern philosophy. If he found himself reminiscing or planning, he was reminded to “Be Here Now.” He started upon the path of enlightenment, and has been journeying along it ever since. Be Here Now is a vehicle for sharing the true message, and a guide to self-determination.
Spiritual Intelligence refers to the intuitive knowledge of the self, others, situations and techniques to achieve the desired objectives. Hence it can be called the soul of all intelligences. Spiritual Intelligence enhances our power to inspire others by transforming their souls in such a way that their desires and aspirations are aligned in a single direction. Soul is beyond all reason and intellect. It is, in fact, the source of mind and intellect. One who knows his soul knows the universe, since soul is nothing but the microcosm of the universe. This book explains this body-soul continuum and suggests practical steps to evolve through the body-senses-mind-intellect to reach our soul. Welcome to this new path of spiritual evolution.
This is the most accessible work in English on the greatest mystical poet of Islam, providing a survey of the basic Sufi and Islamic doctrines concerning God and the world, the role of man in the cosmos, the need for religion, man's ultimate becoming, the states and stations of the mystical ascent to God, and the means whereby literature employs symbols to express "unseen" realities. William Chittick translates into English for the first time certain aspects of Rumi's work. He selects and rearranges Rumi's poetry and prose in order to leave aside unnecessary complications characteristic of other English translations and to present Rumi's ideas in an orderly fashion, yet in his own words. Thorough, nontechnical introductions to each chapter, and selections that gradually present a greater variety of terms and images, make this work easily accessible to those interested in the spirituality of any tradition.
A comprehensive treatment of visionary experience in some of the main texts of Jewish mysticism, this book reveals the overwhelmingly visual nature of religious experience in Jewish spirituality from antiquity through the late Middle Ages. Using phenomenological and critical historical tools, Wolfson examines Jewish mystical texts from late antiquity, pre-kabbalistic sources from the tenth to the twelfth centuries, and twelfth- and thirteenth-century kabbalistic literature. His work demonstrates that the sense of sight assumes an epistemic priority in these writings, reflecting and building upon those scriptural passages that affirm the visual nature of revelatory experience. Moreover, the author reveals an androcentric eroticism in the scopic mentality of Jewish mystics, which placed the externalized and representable form, the phallus, at the center of the visual encounter. In the visionary experience, as Wolfson describes it, imagination serves a primary function, transmuting sensory data and rational concepts into symbols of those things beyond sense and reason. In this view, the experience of a vision is inseparable from the process of interpretation. Fundamentally challenging the conventional distinction between experience and exegesis, revelation and interpretation, Wolfson argues that for the mystics themselves, the study of texts occasioned a visual experience of the divine located in the imagination of the mystical interpreter. Thus he shows how Jewish mystics preserved the invisible transcendence of God without doing away with the visual dimension of belief.
Are you feeling lost, unfulfilled, or without direction in your life? Do you yearn for a deeper sense of purpose and meaning? Look no further than "Purposeful Life - How to Find Purpose and Meaning of Your Life" by Indrajeet Nayak. This book is not just another self-help guide. It delves into the essence of what it means to live a purpose-driven life, exploring the concept of our deep divine soul purpose and how to uncover it. Nayak offers practical tips and exercises to help you identify and pursue your unique path, whether that means a career change, a new passion, or a spiritual journey. "Purposeful Life" draws on both ancient wisdom and modern science to show you how to tap into your inner guidance and find fulfillment in all areas of your life. Nayak's message is clear: everyone has a purpose, and it's never too late to start living a purposeful life. If you're looking for a book that will inspire and motivate you to find the meaning and purpose of life, "Purposeful Life" is a must-read. Indrajeet Nayak is a respected author in the field of purpose books, and his latest work offers a powerful message of hope and possibility. This book will help you build self-esteem, transform your personal life, and find true happiness. Don't miss out on this opportunity to discover the purpose of man hope and live a purposeful life! Why are you here? What purpose does life serve you, and how can it be lived to its fullest? Best-selling author Robert Holden provides answers to these questions so that you can move from searching for your purpose to living it - (hint: it's not all about you!) "How do I discover my life's purpose?" For 10 years, Robert Holden's Shift Happens! radio show had this question asked more often than any other. It seems everyone searches for their purpose in life, yet we all struggle to recognize and live it. Holden takes readers on an epic journey of self-discovery that includes Joseph Campbell's hero's journey with Joseph Campbell; Carl Jung's work on true vocation; Victor Frankl's search for meaning; St. Francis of Assisi pilgrimage; Wordsworth and Rilke poetry - plus much more. This journey has four stages: "The Call" explores the "calling" inside you to live a more meaningful life. "The Path" helps you recognize what inspires and motivates you, encourages you to follow your bliss, and do more of what brings you joy. "The Ordeal" confronts the obstacles, trials and struggles you must endure to fulfill your highest purpose. "The Victory" urges you to remain true to yourself; sing your true song; and keep saying yes to life's greatest adventures. In Higher Purpose, Holden delves into three levels of purpose: your individual purpose, a shared purpose and the greater good. He provides inquiries, meditations and journaling exercises to help you live your purpose every day. Plus he shares stories from his own life as well as conversations with luminaries such as Maya Angelou, Louise Hay, Jean Houston, Matthew Fox, Robert Thurman, Caroline Myss, Andrew Harvey, Wayne Dyer and Oprah Winfrey--to name just a few!
Now in a fully corrected edition, one of the true spiritual classics of the twentieth century. Published for the first time with an index and Cardinal Hans Urs von Balthasar’s afterword, this new English publication of Meditations on the Tarot is the landmark edition of one of the most important works of esoteric Christianity. Written anonymously and published posthumously, as was the author’s wish, the intention of this work is for the reader to find a relationship with the author in the spiritual dimensions of existence. The author wanted not to be thought of as a personality who lived from 1900 to 1973, but as a friend who is communicating with us from beyond the boundaries of ordinary life. Using the 22 major arcana of the tarot deck as a means to explore some of humanity’s most penetrating spiritual questions, Meditations on the Tarot has attracted an unprecedented range of praise from across the spiritual spectrum.
