Inner Life [Paperback]

Hazrat Inayat Khan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 11, 1997

The Indian Sufi master Hazrat Inayat Khan (1882–1927) was the first teacher to bring Sufism—Islamic mysticism—to the Western world. His teaching was noted for its stirring beauty and power, as well as for its applicability to all people, regardless of religious or philosophical background. This book gathers together three of Inayat Khan's most beloved essays on the spiritual life from among the fourteen volumes of his collected works:


   • "The Inner Life": Inayat Kahn's sublime portrait of the person whose life is a radiant reflection of the Divine


   • "Sufi Mysticism": in which the author identifies and shatters the common misconceptions about mysticism to reveal its true meaning


   • "The Path of Initiation and Discipleship": What it means to set out on the spiritual path and how to find and maintain the right relationship with a teacher

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

This volume collects three classic essays by Sufi master Hazrat Inayat Khan (1882^-1927), along with a short lecture (previously unpublished), "The Path of the Mystic," and a small collection of aphorisms. Readers unfamiliar with Sufism will find this an excellent, accessible introduction. Those who are familiar with Sufism will appreciate the collection of the material into one volume. Inayat Khan's insistence on the unity of mysticism and the oneness of God, along with his openness to all spiritual paths, is an important corrective to sectarianism and Western misperception of Islam as sectarian. The collection is full of memorable images, among them a picture of learning as tying a knot in the mind, and unlearning--essential to spiritual development--as the difficult task of untying it. For a Western audience as often as not tied up in knots, this is essential reading. Steve Schroeder

Review

"Few writers have been as important to the understanding of Islamic mysticism as Hazrat Inayat Khan . . . These writings are an eloquent introduction to a spiritual path that encourages seekers to discover their inner spirituality amidst the business of everyday life."—Publishers Weekly



"Inayat Khan is masterful, patient, and exacting in teaching the way of 'getting to the center of life."—Yoga Journal

"Inayat Khan brought one of the strongest and sweetest lineages from India to the West: the music and open heart of Sufism as it blends with Persian poetry and Western intellect. He is a source and a great joy."—Coleman Barks, author of Open Secret and The Essential Rumi

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Shambhala (February 11, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570622094
• ISBN-13: 978-1570622090
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #229,866 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #92 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Islam > Sufism

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Older Editions are Better, November 11, 2004

By 

Wendy Lynn Gisele Ip - See all my reviews

This review is from: Inner Life (Paperback)

I currently have a 1979 version of this book; however, it is published by the International Headquarters Sufi Movement, Geneva, and not by the Shambhala. I must say that I am a little shocked that the current version being offered to the public does not have the same content (as described by the table of contents) as the 1979 version. My version has "The way of illumination", "The Inner life", "The Soul, Whence and Whither", and "The Purpose of Life". Now, the publishers at/of Shambhala, for whatever reason, thought that they were justified to change things up a bit or a lot by changing the titles of the contents(I can not even imagine why it would be necessary), rearranging the contents, and even omitting content in it's original version. In any event, I find this terribly unsettling. At any rate, if it is possible to get an older version, then do so. Anything written by Hazrat Inayat Khan is for anyone coming from whatever religious background who maybe seeking more, as he respects and cherishes, whole heartedly, the Vedanta, Zend-Avesta, Kabala, Bible, Qur'an, and others. I think that this is what makes him and his work so unique; that he is so unrelentingly loving and understanding of mankind. "The Inner Life" deals with topics such as: original spiritual qualities of man, man's union with God, defining genuine happiness. The best thing about Hazrat Khan is that you do not have to be a proclaimed Sufi to benefit from his work. His work was written for everyone.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Living Sufism, April 14, 2000

By 

Blake Lattisaw (Toledo, España) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Inner Life (Paperback)

If you have read the Carl Ernst books on Sufism you will get a good feel for the academic view. If you read this you will get a good feel for the living tradition of Sufism. This book is great for those who want to go beyond studying Sufism to experiancing Sufism.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent introduction to Sufi thought, July 15, 2010

By 

blue jaguar (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Inner Life (Paperback)

The mystical Sufi's can be a hard nut to crack. Their writings range from the obscurely mystical to the more fundamentalist Islamiclly influence. The writings of Hazrat Inayat Khan represent a mature form of Sufism which embraces of universal view of the family of humanity. In this book the author lays out some of the fundamental concepts of Sufism in an easy to follow, and thought-provoking, manner.

Chapters include:
- The Preparation for the Journey
- The Object of the Journey
- Fulfillment of the Obligations of Human Life
- The Realization of the Inner Life
- Freedom of Action
- The Law of the Inner Life
- The Object of the Inner Life
- The Attainment of the Inner Life
- The Angel-Man
- The Five Different Kinds of Spiritual Souls

Highly recommended for someone who wants to understand this ancient viewpoint to life.