Living Presence: A Sufi Way to Mindfulness & the Essential Self [Paperback]

Kabir Edmund Helminski (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1992

Sufism is a centuries-old spiritual psychology. Drawing on the words of the great Sufi poet Rumi, as well as traditional material and personal experience, this book integrates the wisdom of Sufism with the needs of contemporary life. LIVING PRESENCE shows how we can bring spirituality and psychology into a balanced system that honors and awakens the soul.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This is an excellent book that explains spiritual principles and how to carry them into everyday life. Helminski, publisher of Threshold Books in Vermont, uses language that is simple, straightforward, and down to earth, yet profound. While the author's viewpoint is Sufi and Islamic, the principles presented are universal, and few cultural overlays intrude on the text, making it accessible to Westerners. Presence is used to mean God or the all-pervading divine, and Essential Self for that part of us that connects most directly with the divine. Each chapter opens with a quotation, many from various Mathnawi of Rumi, which are used as sacred texts by the Sufis. Self-observation, remembering the divine in every moment, and dealing from the heart at all times are the means to becoming fully human. Highly recommended for spiritual, religion, and New Age collections.
- Marilyn E. Schafer, Canadian Memorial Chiropractic Coll., Toronto
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Tarcher; 1st Jeremy P. Tarcher/Perigee ed edition (June 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0874776996
• ISBN-13: 978-0874776997
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #284,532 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just the Ticket., February 21, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Monterey, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Living Presence: A Sufi Way to Mindfulness & the Essential Self (Paperback)

This is an excellent book for someone seeking information about Sufism, about spiritual practice, or simply about how to live as a fully present spiritual being in our world. The chapters are short, digestible chunks in clearly written language, and include excerpts from Jelalludin Rumi's extradordinary poetry, as well as Helminski's wisdom garnered from more than two decades of Sufi study, practice, and leadership. This book balances the practical and the beautiful, and shows the sacredness inherent in human life. Someone who is remembering his or her connection to God, or wants to know how to remember that remembrance, will find "Living Presence" both useful and a joy to read. I highly recommend this book for anyone, both absolute beginners and those further along the path. A definite thumbs up!

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Read, February 27, 2002

By 

R. Clampitt "seeker" (Palmdale, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Living Presence: A Sufi Way to Mindfulness & the Essential Self (Paperback)

This book deals with more than Sufism per se. It is an distillation of ancient spiritual psychologies as applied to todays world and needs. Helminski draws deeply from the Gurdjieff 4th Way traditon, Zen and Sufism. But mostly the 4th Way - if you've read In Search of the Miraculous, Views from the Real World you'll see the parallels.

The insights into the human condition and what needs to be done about it are excellent and is a very good primer into spiritual psychologies. They apply across religous boundries and would be of great use to anyone who is contemplating pursuing an spiritual path. Especially the western religious traditons were the concept of an spiritual psychology is all but lost or not understood.

The reason I did not give it 5 stars is that it is an primer and not an how to book. Though any decent book on Vipassana style meditation will help here - which really forms the foundation for what Helminski is talking about in the book.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Psychospiritual Treatise I have found, January 27, 2007

By 

C. S. Smith "contemplative, entrepreneur, tec... (Waco, TX) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Living Presence: A Sufi Way to Mindfulness & the Essential Self (Paperback)

Helminski presents the Sufi path in a clear concise and most helpful way. I am a contemplative Christian and found this book to be consistent with all the teachings of Christ, and of the Apostles. Christianity has been westernized--and this book reminds me that indeed it was and is a belief system with definite Middle Eastern roots. Helminski is a devout follower of Rumi and the joy, focus and essential teachings of Mohamed, and of Jesus Christ are given respect and credit. Sufism is transcendent and encompasses so many other paths. This book is awakening and enlightment. Read it, re-read it and read it again.