Customer Reviews

The Sufi Book of Life: 99 Pathways of the Heart for the Modern Dervish

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Superb little book, very inspiring, an initiation in itself. A
must for students of Sufism and world religions, and would
enhance depth and richness of spiritual experience for any
reader.

Too bad this book is printed on fragile newsprint as regular
paper would have a longer life, but the other side to that
coin is that it shows starkly the transitoriness of worldly
life.

This is a fine and accessible review of the 99 aspects traditionally attributed by Moslems to Allah (God). It is written by an American with many years of study and involvement in the Sufi and Islamic traditions (among others areas of expertise).

His interpretations are insightful, and although many liberties have been taken, they convey the more positive aspects of each name (wazifa). He offers the more tradition associations for each name as well, and this is a helpful contrast. Meditations on each name will be useful for some.

Overall an excellent reference and useful for personal insight, wazifa work, innerwork, and as a reference. Recommended.

The information for each pathway is only a few pages long (so you can read a short section with coffee in the morning), but it is packed with wonderful insights, inspiration, and most importantly ways to really use the information. Each pathway has a suggested meditation and ideas for integrating the concept into your life. Wonderful book!

This is an excellent book full of humor and wisdom. I just purchased my second copy as I have used it almost every day for over two years to read and remember a pathway. I even take it with me when I travel and have given several copies to friends and family. The Sufi Book of Life is one of my favorite resources of comfort and inspiration. It is a tool to connect with my inner life. I use it to set the theme for my day and/or read it just before I settle in for the night. I treasure this book.

In Islam, God is said to have 99 names besides "Allah." This refers to terms used in the Qur'an to describe the various qualities He possesses (e.g. the Patient, the Giver of Life, the Oft-Returning, and so on). What Douglas-Klotz has done is taken each of the 99 names (and the name "Allah") and interpreted them according to his own impressive knowledge of Semitic linguistics and an intuitive approach to etymology that yields insights that a strict academic interpretation would miss. He links his interpretations to various stories, poems and sayings from the Islamic/Sufi traditions: Rumi, Rabia, Hazrat Inayat Khan, and many others. He also presents numerous stories about the mythical half-sage, half-clown Mullah (Hoja) Nasruddin, which are very amusing (In one, Mullah decides to revolutionize the carrier pigeon business by cross-breeding them with talking parrots!).

After each interpretation, the author presents a possible scenario from the reader's life, based upon scenarios most people do in fact face from time to time, and then suggests how this particular name might be of use in getting through this scenario. Finally, he presents a meditation (sometimes two) on each name, some classic Sufi meditations but others more contemporary. Some meditations are designed for walking, which I find very useful.

Finally, there is a brief biographical sketch of each person cited in the book, and contact information for many Sufi organizations.

This book will help anyone interested in exploring Sufi mysticism, mysticism in general, or anyone who just wants to learn new meditative techniques. In the process, you'll read some very insightful and entertaining texts from across the centuries.

I have found using the book as part of my daily spiritual practice very inspiring.

This book is very inspiring and comforting. Ever see the movie "MirrorMask"? This is the RL equivilant of "A very useful book" at least as far as spiritual/mystic questors go. But its not a key to bending spoons, or casting curses, or trying to figure out lottery numbers. It's a key to finding peace with yourself and the universe and god, infinitely more powerful and valuble.

This book has become a daily Oracle for me. Each pathway offers a rich perspective of life. It brings clarity and insight to each and everyday. My favorite is the pathway Assessing What Is.. how true it was for me especially in my life. We get so wrapped up in everyday drama that we forget the pathway of present moment. If offers so much heart energy. This book offers a pathway to inner peace and gives you the tools to travel this enlightened path. This was my first introduction to the Sufi tradition. I take this book with me everywhere.

Susan Mavity, Author The Light Within, The Gift Of A Rose

This little book is amazingly accurate in providing just the insight I need to see things from a deeper perspective. I have been using this book on a daily basis by asking for what I need and then opening it to whatever page feels right. Every time it has provided information that has either been very clearly what I needed, or after journaling about it, I have understood it from a different perspective. I am grateful that a friend recommended it to me.

I first encountered this book as a loan from my sister, and after having her copy for about 3 months, I HAD to purchase my own. I love the way this book is setup so you can flip to a random page, and the order doesn't matter so much. I especially like the way each of the 99 pathways is set up, with a description, a little story/poetic verse to signify its orgins and then its exact linguistic orgin is provided. A fun, llight-hearted spiritual read that doesn't attempt to shove any hardcore religious perspective down your throat. Truly for the modern dervish :)