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The Garden of Truth: The Vision and Promise of Sufism, Islam's Mystical Tradition

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Seyyed Hossein Nasr is a rare phenomena in these days of religious decadence, earth-ravaging materialism, and all around despair. Nasr's sober call to return to our religions, not to the truncated and diseased state into which we've reduced them, but to their still beating hearts which are everywhere the same, is the driving force behind this latest title "The Garden of Truth", which is a sort of inner sequel to his "The Heart of Islam" published in 2002. This 'still beating heart' is not other than the esoteric or inner dimension of religion which informs its outer practices and doctrines, and it is this that communicates most directly the religion's presiding idea. In Islam this 'beating heart' is what we call in the West Sufism, but which is also known as Tasawwuf in Arabic, and 'Irfan in Persian. This living tradition, which goes back to the noble Prophet Muhammad, consists of many disciplines, all of which seek to purify our soul and render it transparent vis-à-vis the Divine Attributes. And while tomes have been written on the myriad aspects of this tradition it is incredibly difficult to give a concise summary that does even the least bit of justice to it. In fact I can think of no one better qualified to undertake such a task than Seyyed Hossein Nasr. Over the past four decades Nasr has, more than any other Muslim scholar, informed the Western world about not only the Islamic tradition, but its central virtues, which are preserved most succinctly in Sufism. Covering Nasr's qualifications for this is beyond the scope of this humble review, but suffice it to say that he has lived the reality of Sufism for over fifty years, has studied under traditional masters of Islamic philosophy/gnosis, and is recognized as a peerless scholar of Islamic civilization, its arts, and its philosophical tradition.

While "The Garden of Truth" is a summary it is not simply another academic appraisal. Instead this was written as a Sufi treatise for Western seekers. While summarizing the basic doctrines of Sufism, its historical unfolding, its luminaries and prerogatives Nasr also draws a basic map of the Path for the potential wayfarer. Obviously a book can never take the place of a living Master, but books can be useful supports for embracing the spiritual life. Also, it should be noted that although this is a summary it is by no means a light read. Since Nasr's perspective is informed by Islam's long tradition of knowledge-based mysticism his interpretations of Sufi doctrine, symbolism, and rites are tempered with that principial knowledge associated with speculative metaphysics. It is this edge that allows Nasr to communicate the sublimity of the Islamic vision, and of Sufism in particular, to a Western audience with all of the nuance necessary to make its central doctrines and practices intelligible.

As the destructive and hedonistic culture of the secularized West dominates more and more of the globe, crushing indigenous cultures, erasing the traces of their religions, and subordinating their economies, one wonders what could curb the sheer madness such a domination entails. For the spiritual man the only answer is inwardness, self-reform, and trust in God. For some of us Islam, and Sufism, are the means whereby these goals are sought, and I can think of no better a guide than Seyyed Hossein Nasr.

This review was originally written for this book, but somehow found itself linked to Dr. Nasr's collected papers, edited by Chittick. "The Garden of Truth" is an absolutely beautiful book. Although it might be called a primer, it is deep and rich and filled with sentences that make you stop and ponder and contemplate the wonders of the inward and outward aspects of the Divine. The chapter on love and beauty alone is pure gold. What I also liked about Dr. Nasr's narrative is his respect and appreciation for other mystical traditions, both East and West. His is no narrow view. I am a Jungian analyst by profession, but an amateur Sufi, amateur meaning one who does something for the sheer love of it. This book has deepend that love.

Seyyed Hossein Nasr is professor of Islamic Studies at George Washington University and the author of many books including The Heart of Islam. This erudite, enlightening, and wide-ranging overview of Sufism is the result of 50 years of both scholarly study and existential participation in Islam's mystical tradition. He notes at the start of this survey:

"The Sufi tradition contains a vast metaphysical and cosmological set of doctrines elaborated over a long period by masters of gnosis. It contains methods of spiritual realization that address nearly all the different spiritual possibilities on the levels of action, love, and knowledge. It has preserved over many centuries going back to the Prophet a regular chain of transmission of initiatic power (walayah/wilayah) and the grace (al-barakah) necessary for the spiritual journey. And above all, it can enable men and women to reach a state of sanctity."

Nasr believes that Sufism is uniquely qualified to help spiritual seekers in the West appreciate other religions and to serve as an antidote to Islamic fundamentalism. With its rich blend of mystical poetry, its diverse literature, its spiritual ethics, and its many musical masterworks, this path of the heart speaks to all those who yearn for a closer intimacy with God, a richer interior life, and a spiritual repertoire of practices that give life depth and meaning.

The book is divided into sections on:

* What It Means to Be Human (Who Are We and What Are We Doing Here?)
* Truth (The Knowledge That Illuminates and Delivers from the Bondage of Ignorance)
* Love and Beauty (The Fire That Attracts and Consumes, the Peace That Calms and Liberates)
* Goodness and Human Action (To Do His Will, to Conform to the Divine Norm)
* How Do We Reach the Garden of Truth? (The Path to the One)
* Access to the Center (Sufism Here and Now)
* The Sufi Tradition and the Sufi Orders (Reflections on the Manifestation of Sufism in Time and Space)
* The Tradition of Theoretical Sufism and Gnosis

The Sufi path leads from the deserts of forgetfulness, selfishness, and separation to the Garden of Truth where individuals can realize their true identity. According to Nasr, followers of the path are expected to be God's servant and always grateful, no matter what the circumstances. The author acknowledges that the road to the Garden of Truth involves acquiring and realizing unitive knowledge and being immersed in love and beauty. Sufis are known as "people of the heart," and intimacy with God means acting with humility, charity, nobility, sincerity, and truthfulness. Another practice is imitation of the Prophet Muhammad, who modeled a glorious way to live. Sufi masters talk about the importance of adab, a form of courtesy and kindness which pervades everything one does, from greeting people to eating to sitting in a gathering. Shaykhs help dervishes learn the spiritual disciplines and virtues, which are the ornaments of the soul.

According to Nasr, the integration of the contemplative life and the active life is the hallmark of Sufi spirituality. In these uncivil times, we need more people who have been trained in the spiritual efficacy of loving actions. A life of beauty is a life where attention, being present, gratitude, peace, and compassion are manifested at home and at work. Sufism also nurtures the spiritual arts which in turn can transform our lives both privately and publicly. The Garden of Truth by Seyyed Hossein Nasr is a very helpful illumination of this beautiful path.

If the garden of truth is symbolic of that paradise proximal to the Divine Essence, then Sufism is that multifaceted way within the Islamic tradition that preeminently reaches to that garden. Among those in the West, Sufism is often thought of as a kind of quasi-universalistic mysticism, as with Hazrat Inayat Khan or Idries Shah, as a kind of "mystical dancing", as with the famous whirling dervishes, or as a way of ecstatic passion, as with the various translations and mistranslations of the poetry of Rumi. Among contemporary Muslims, Sufism, while quietly embraced by many, is too often rejected by the more strident voices of that community: by puritanical fundamentalists as an "innovation" and deviation from their understanding of pure Islam, by modernist reformers as an embarrassing medievalism best buried and forgotten. Like the blessed tree "neither of the east nor of the west" (Qur'an 24:35), the reality of Sufism is something quite different from either of these understandings. Moreover, this reality, far from being a mere historical curiosity, is one that speaks to our essential human condition, here and now. It is, simply, a way leading back to the Eternal, one that shall remain open until the end of historical time.

Seyyed Hossein Nasr is one of the world's leading scholars of Sufism, Islam and world philosophy. Now in his seventy-fifth year, he has authored more than fifty works and hundreds of articles and has received numerous honors in the fields of religion and philosophy. He has also been, since his boyhood in Tehran, intimately involved in the spiritual reality of Sufism. The present work may be understood as the seamless conjoining of both these threads of concern: at once scholarly and vitally engaged, it is not so much a book about Sufism as a book of Sufism, a Sufi treatise in the tradition of classical Sufi works, but composed in a contemporary language. The result is an elegant, accessible summary of the Sufi way, by turns deeply informative and profoundly moving.

The work is composed in six movements: leading with the fundamental existential question of our present situation and possibilities, it moves to a consideration in turns of the ways of knowledge, love and action as they manifest within the context of Sufism, then to a detailed description of the various facets of Sufi life, and finally, coming full circle, to a discussion of what Sufism may offer to the contemporary individual in search of a path of return to the Divine. Two capping appendices detail both the historical manifestation of Sufism as well as the tradition of theoretical Sufism in the context of realized gnosis. Ultimately, in what could well be taken as a Sufi epigram, everything comes back to Divine Unity: that which we are called to know and to realize is the One, that Divine beauty that calls us to love is that of the One, the virtues that we are called to embody are those of the One. To return to the One is to become one oneself, and in that wholeness is the garden.

This is an excellent book by the renowned Sufi scholar, Seyyed Hossein Nasr. It is a book I wish many fundamentalist Christian and Muslims would read because it is a lucid and loving explanation of the inner religion of truth where both Muslims and Christian could find harmony in the oneness of God.

Sufism is the mystical part of Islam and its deepest truths correspond to the truths put forth by mystics of other religions. When people go beyond the outer religious practices and rituals they find the oneness of Life.

Nasr covers the subject of Sufism brillantly as he is more than an outer scholar. There is too much to review, but some of the topics he writes about are the role of love and beauty in the spiritual life, the goal of Sufi practices, and spiritual masters and disciples. He also writes about various Sufi saints and schools of thought in different areas of the world.

He also writes some about jihad, which is a worrisome subject to many because some fundamentalists use it to justify violent actions including killing others. Nasr makes it clear that the greater jihad is to conquer one's one ego and to become spiritually victorious by reaching the garden of truth. If you see everyone as part of the oneness, why would you want to hurt anyone else? Violence only begets violence, but love can amplify itself and is eternally satisfying.

What I like about Sufism are the explanations of the oneness of God. For example, Only God can say "I", everyone else should say "we", as in we are the body of God.

There is too much profound thought in this book to summarize here. I just highly recommend this book to everyone who is interested in helping Christians and Muslims to understand each other as beings who are part of the same, one and only, Creator of the universe. Clifford J Mikkelson, the onenessguy. Gospel of One, Letters of Aul

Many books have been written on the above topic but the words in this book are poetic and comes from author's heart: a heart that not just knows but have seen the vision. This book provides a beautiful blending of authentic Sufi view and its higher vision from which this teaching originates. Nasr is a master to use contemporary language to explain authentic Islamic thoughts of higher knowledge of the heart; his use of perennial philosophy perspective to explain classic Islamic esoteric teaching is marvelous.

This book require some understanding of the Sufi path; it can appeal to any serious seeker on the path of any authentic and traditional religion. Read it with open mind and heart.

I have wanted to learn more about Sufi Islam, as I lived and worked in Morocco for 5 years and worked several months in Bangladesh, both countries where Sufi is prevalent. Dr. Nasr makes a superb overview of this hopeful branch of Islam. I learned so very much about Sufi connections to Christianity, Buddhism, Shi'ism, and Sunni faiths. I came away with much more optimism about long-term prospects for rapprochement among faiths. Excellent writing and organization of material.

This is a must read for ever scholar who really wants to understand Islamic spirituality and Gnostism in its fullness, written by one of the greatest living philosophers in the world.

I would certainly recommend you to read this invaluable book.

Seyyed Hossein Nasr has written a compassionate and grace filled instruction of the ladder into the Sufi-Heart, the People of the Heart & the "Heart of Islam"
I am particularity grateful that this manual of the Sufi-life, the Sufi-way, the Sufi-Path is written not as a western manual of the topic but written in the thought forms and patterns of the original Sufi tomes on "the path" Seyyed Hossein Nasr is as in all his many, many books a man of keen, sharp mind that is a light of knowledge and a heart that is the light of peace.
He is the gracious & humble servant of Truth.
Some western readers might find his unflinching servitude to Sufi as only an Islamic rite as eye opening. He has given a great insight(as he always strives) into the true nature of Islamic philosophy. And the Islamic thought and heart processes different then those of the Western world but respectable as not only a compassionate way of life but respectable as a deep and complex philosophy. We in the western world have just begun to dip our toes into the vast seas of Islamic philosophies and reawaken to what it means to be a human being. If you are interested in the peaceful and compassionate philosophy of Islam I can not think of a better book to recommend.
Peace be with you-

There are various books on Sufism, but I liked this one the best so far.
I tried Martin Lings ,Gai Eaton, Adbul Qadir Gilani and some works of Imam Ghazali but found that, although they are good, make a gray subject grayer..
Sufism is esoteric for sure ( it can be confusing and perhaps misleading if you don't have a proper background ) but this book is a great lucid introduction to it.

I really liked for e.g. how Nasr talks about the topic of Love. For that alone the book is worth reading.