Asif Shakoor

Asif Shakoor, MD, was born in Pakistan and emigrated to the United States in 1979. He lived in Brooklyn, NY, which shaped his intellectual and cultural development. He attended Brooklyn College, which became the spark of his imagination and paved the way for his intellectual and poetic journey. Writing poetry has been his way of shedding light on the fundamental question of meaningful existence and our conscious human relationship with Nature and the world. His published works include: Let There Be Light in Darkness, Let There Be Wisdom in Truth, When Silence Speaks, and Many Shades of Wisdom in two volumes. He is a Sufi mystic who seeks unity by lifting the veil of consciousness, allowing the inner and outer worlds to merge with his human spirit.

He is currently a full-time physician, teacher, artist, and spiritual philosopher—his latest book: Many Shades of Wisdom.

Introduction

A lifetime of proverbial reflection written over time inspired me to write this book.

"Many Shades of Wisdom" is a work infused with Sufi mysticism, a vision of

self-reflection that seeks purpose and meaning in life's journey. The book is

divided into seven chapters, each seeking to reveal the subtle shades of light that

form the mosaic of our existence. The spiritual nature of this work seeks a

common link among philosophy, poetry, literature, and spiritual beliefs.

A Sufi poet attempts to erase the boundaries between the inner and outer

worlds by lifting the veil of consciousness that hinders the mind’s awareness. Walking

out into the world, we shape our destiny, determining who and what we want to

become. What we seek is self-realization, and what we strive for is a deeper

understanding of ourselves. Who we are and what our purpose for living becomes

our mind's search for wisdom. This work is my inner voice, speaking to your heart.

The many shades of wisdom written on these pages are the beauty that is the soul

of our humanity. The human spirit is the voice we hold sacred, and we become

mindful of our search for unity in the miracle of our conscious existence.

"Many Shades of Wisdom" will explore why we struggle to find happiness. It

searches for truth in humanity, which binds us to wisdom and gives us the humility to

overcome our human nature. The life we love is often taken for granted, but it

becomes sacred when we fear losing it unexpectedly in the world. The beginning

and end of time are the paths our lives must take to fulfill our spiritual journey. Is

our mind awakened by our consciousness or lost in the illusions of reality to wander

blind? Will the light ever reach the abyss of darkness that lurks in our human nature

to touch our souls? Why do we chase fame, fortune, and wealth that only trap us

further in the web of life? Why do we fear poverty and chase dreams that take us

farther from ourselves? "Many Shades of Wisdom" is my search for the Self, not in

the world but within myself. The vision of our existence is to look beyond and ponder

the wisdom of the many shades reflected in our spirits.

Wisdom is like the waves of the ocean,

created when the depth of your

spirit suddenly shifts upward.