Sacred Laughter Of The Sufis: Awakening the Soul with the Mulla's Comic Teaching Stories and Other Islamic Wisdom - Softcover

Rahman, Imam Jamal

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1459682246 ISBN 13: 9781459682245

Publisher: ReadHowYouWant, 2014

Synopsis

Combines the legendary stories of Islam's great comic foil, Mulla Nasruddin, with sayings from the Qur'an, the Prophet Muhammad, Rumi, Hafiz and other Islamic sages. Shows how spiritual seekers of all traditions - as individuals or as part of a group - can apply the Mulla's wisdom teachings to their spiritual lives with easy - to - follow spiritual practices.

About this title

Review:

"A holy gift: Jamal Rahman has mined the great jewel of Sufi wisdom and laughter, sharing its healing powers via every page of this book." Rev. Susan Sparks, senior pastor (and comedian), Madison Avenue Baptist Church; author, Laugh Your Way to Grace: Reclaiming the Spiritual Power of Humor "Lovely help[s] us understand our human condition. What makes it particularly valuable are the tips and exercises to help us incorporate ancient wisdom into our modern lives." Amir Hussain, professor of theological studies, Loyola Marymount University A true gift for seekers of all faith traditions . Be prepared to laugh out loud! Rev. Jane Vennard, author, Fully Awake and Truly Alive: Spiritual Practices to Nurture Your Soul Marvelous.... Lasers into the heart of the matter with delicious humor. Truly a lovely book for people of all faith traditions. Kay Lindahl, co-founder, Women of Spirit and Faith; co-editor, Women, Spirituality and Transformative Leadership: Where Grace Meets Power There are many books on Sufism, but none like this! The wisdom presented here, made all the more sharp by the liberating humor that carries it, is a scalpel cutting away everything that distracts us from Truth. Rabbi Rami Shapiro, author, Perennial Wisdom for the Spiritually Independent: Sacred Teachings Annotated and Explained In case you were tempted to characterize Islam as dogmatic or somber, [here is] the Mulla, and his most eloquent spokesperson, Imam Jamal Rahman. Be prepared to laugh your head off and then ... have a direct and transformational encounter with the wild wisdom of the Sufis. Mirabai Starr, author, God of Love: A Guide to the Heart of Judaism, Christianity and Islam"

Sufism is Islam's mystical dimension, and Sufi stories are used to teach "larger" lessons. The protagonists for most stories are famous Sufi luminaries; however, Mulla Nasruddin is the main character in several of the stories. In the stories, the main character typically does "stupid" things to expose our fallacies or show us what is truly important. This collection of stories is divided into nine sections. Each section contains about half a dozen chapters, and each section takes the reader into a higher level of consciousness (which Sufis typically work toward). Each chapter contains a couple of stories, but the bulk of the chapter is devoted to explaining the lesson. The stories, although humorous, serve to embellish the lesson rather [than] form an integral part of it, and each chapter ends with sections for further reflection and practice. Although the stories included are generally intended for children, this book is more suitable for older readers and adults. A chapter can be read quickly, but the reflection and practice last a lifetime.--Muhammed Hassanali "BookList "

Sufism is Islam's mystical dimension, and Sufi stories are used to teach "larger" lessons. The protagonists for most stories are famous Sufi luminaries; however, Mulla Nasruddin is the main character in several of the stories. In the stories, the main character typically does "stupid" things to expose our fallacies or show us what is truly important. This collection of stories is divided into nine sections. Each section contains about half a dozen chapters, and each section takes the reader into a higher level of consciousness (which Sufis typically work toward). Each chapter contains a couple of stories, but the bulk of the chapter is devoted to explaining the lesson. The stories, although humorous, serve to embellish the lesson rather [than] form an integral part of it, and each chapter ends with sections for further reflection and practice. Although the stories included are generally intended for children, this book is more suitable for older readers and adults. A chapter can be read quickly, but the reflection and practice last a lifetime.

--Muhammed Hassanali "BookList "

About the Author:

""Imam Jamal Rahman, a popular speaker on Islam, Sufi spirituality and interfaith relations, has been featured in the New York Times, CBS News, BBC and various NPR programs. Co-founder and Muslim Sufi minister at Interfaith Community Church and adjunct faculty at Seattle University, he is a former host of Interfaith Talk Radio and travels nationally and internationally, presenting at retreats and workshops. He is coauthor of Getting to the Heart of Interfaith: The Eye-Opening, Hope-Filled Friendship of a Pastor, a Rabbi & an Imam and Religion Gone Astray: What We Found at the Heart of Interfaith, and author of The Fragrance of Faith: The Enlightened Heart of Islam, among other books""

About this edition

• Publisher: ReadHowYouWant
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 1459682246
• ISBN 13: 9781459682245
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 272