Learning How to Learn: Psychology and Spirituality in the Sufi Way

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Canonical title

Learning How to Learn: Psychology and Spirituality in the Sufi Way

Original publication date

1978

Epigraph

Take warning from the misfortunes of others, so that others need not have to take warning from your own. — Saadi, Rose Garden (13th Century)

When th camel of our efforts sinks into the mud, what matter whether the de... (show all)stination is near or far? — Ustad Khalilullah Khalili, Quatrains (1975)

The world has no being but an allegory:
From end to end its state is but a farce and play — Shabistari, Secret Garden (13th Century)

First words

Until only a few years ago, as literary people, psychologists and the increasing number of those engaged in studying human consciousness now so often remind us, Sufism was a closed book for the ordinary person.

Last words

(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)'Man' says Rumi, in Fihi ma Fihi ('In it what is in it') has three spiritual states. In the first he pays no heed to God at all, but worships and pays service to everything, woman and man, wealth and children, stones and clods. God he does not worship. When he acquires a little knowledge and awareness, then he serves nothing but God. Again, when he progresses farther in this state he becomes silent; he does not say, "I do not serve God," neither does he say, "I serve God," for he has transcended these two degrees.'