( 1 reviews )
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( 2 of 2 found this review helpful ) Posted: Nov 15 2006
This is a wonderful choice for anyone interested in the history of Sufism, especially in its influence on the Western world. Hazrat Inayat Khan (1882-1927) was a pioneer, an Indian Sufi master who traveled to America and settled in Europe, where he taught for 17 years. Khan created a dynamic approach to Sufism, reinvigorating traditional Sufi teachings of the universal nature of the human family, the unity underlying the diversity of sacred practices, and the overpowering reality of God's presence, which Khan describes as the "perfection of love, harmony and beauty". Each of the contributors has a unique perspective on Hazrat Inayat Khan; all are valuable pieces which fill in the portrait of the man and his teachings. I found the essay by Murshid Wali Ali Meyer on the history of Sufism in California to be particularly interesting, as it describes in wonderful detail the relationship between his teacher, Murshid Samuel L. Lewis, and his teacher Hazrat Inayat Khan. The essay by Pir Zia Inayat Khan, the grandson of Hazrat Inayat Khan and 'Pir' (or 'elder teacher') of the Sufi Order International, is a beautifully clear and concise look at what is known about the lives of earlier figures in the Sufi lineage, seeking to separate biographical details from legend. Overall, the book serves as a great resource for further study on the life and teachings of Hazrat Inayat Khan. For those looking for a more introductory text, I recommend "The Unity of Religious Ideals" or "Mastery Through Accomplishment" by Hazrat Inayat Khan.
