The Sufis have been using carefully constructed stories for teaching purposes for thousands of years. Though on the surface these often appear to be little more than fairy or folk tales, the Sufis hold that they enshrine - in their characters, plots and imagery - patterns and relationships that nurture a part of the mind not reachable in more conventional ways, thus increasing our understanding, flexibility and breadth of vision. Familiarization with this body of material can eventually pr...

Insight into Life is the real religion, which alone can help man to understand Life.' Hazrat Inayat KhanThe Sufis have been using carefully constructed stories for teaching purposes for thousands of years. Though on the surface these often appear to be little more than fairy or folk tales, the Sufis hold that they enshrine - in their characters, plots and imagery - patterns and relationships that nurture a part of the mind not reachable in more conventional ways, thus increasing ou...

Get drunk on Love, for Love is all that exists. Unless you make Love your business, you will not be admitted to the Beloved.' (Divan-i Shams-i Tabriz 455:A1:54)The thirteenth-century saint Jalaluddin Rumi has been called the greatest mystical poet of any age, and his work compared to that of Dante and Shakespeare. Over a period of 25 years he composed over 70,000 verses of poetry on the subjects of divine love, mystic passion and ecstatic illumination.Rumi was also a master...

Apart from a few women such as Eve, Mary (the mother of Jesus) and Mary Magdalene, the women in the Bible are generally eclipsed by their more famous male counterparts. This state of affairs not only mirrors the general standing of women in Western society over the past two thousand years, it also reflects the patriarchal nature of both the Jewish and Christian religions.And yet closer study of the Bible reveals that women were once regarded as the equals of men rather than subject...

The Tibetan Book of the Dead is a Buddhist funerary text and guide to the afterlife. It was read aloud to the dying or recently deceased to help them attain enlightenment and liberation from the endless cycle of death and rebirth.

There are few women in the Bible that are treated with as much reverence as their more famous male counterparts. This dismal state of affairs mirrors the position of women generally in Western society over the last two thousand years. And yet closer study of the Bible reveals that women were once regarded as equals of men rather than subject to them.John Baldock is at pains to rescue the reputation of women in the Bible, exploring the ancient priestesses, prophets and heroines who ...

From ancient priestesses to prophets and heroines, this guide takes a closer look at the remarkable stories of women in the Bible.There are few women in the Bible that are treated with as much reverence as their more famous male counterparts. This dismal state of affairs mirrors the position of women generally in Western society over the last two thousand years. And yet closer study of the Bible reveals that women were once regarded as equals of men rather than sub...

From ancient priestesses to prophets and heroines, this guide takes a closer look at the remarkable stories of women in the Bible.There are few women in the Bible that are treated with as much reverence as their more famous male counterparts. This dismal state of affairs mirrors the position of women generally in Western society over the last two thousand years. And yet closer study of the Bible reveals that women were once regarded as equals of men rather than sub...

From ancient priestesses to prophets and heroines, this guide takes a closer look at the remarkable stories of women in the Bible.There are few women in the Bible that are treated with as much reverence as their more famous male counterparts. This dismal state of affairs mirrors the position of women generally in Western society over the last two thousand years. And yet closer study of the Bible reveals that women were once regarded as equals of men rather than sub...

From ancient priestesses to prophets and heroines, this guide takes a closer look at the remarkable stories of women in the Bible.There are few women in the Bible that are treated with as much reverence as their more famous male counterparts. This dismal state of affairs mirrors the position of women generally in Western society over the last two thousand years. And yet closer study of the Bible reveals that women were once regarded as equals of men rather than sub...

Poetry is a fascinating use of language. With almost a million words at its command it is not surprising that these Isles have produced some of the most beautiful, moving and descriptive verse through the centuries. In this series we look at individual poets who have shaped and influenced their craft and cement their place in our heritage. In this volume we venture to the East. To met a poet who speaks a common language of love and mysticism which continues to convey valuable insights into...

Islam is based on two major sources: the Qur'an and the Sunnah, and the latter is available to us in the form of hadiths. The Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, "Whoever comes to know one hadith of mine should spread it."I have come to the realization that many youth from among the Muslims have not memorized even one hadith of the Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). For this reason, I have chosen smaller hadiths so that they can be easily memori...