Product Description

The book offer entrance into a world and beauty and truth. Its method is two-fold. First it presents five important lectures on Persian poetry given by Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan, who brought Sufis to the West. Then it offers fresh translations by the poet Coleman Barks of some of the poetry Inayat Khan discusses, designed to provide readers with ready access to at least a sample of this wondrous literature, still not easy to find in English. Thus the book presents a brief, but reasonably comprehensive, introduction to one of the great literatures of the world, until recently ignored in the West.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #48010 in Books
• Published on: 1993-01-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 181 pages

From the Publisher
Spiritual Teaching in the Guise of Poetry
In 13th century Persia, spiritual teaching was given in the guise of poetry. From this vast treasury, Coleman Barks has selected a broad assortment of poems form the works of Sanai, Attar, Rumi, Saadi, and Hafiz. These are combined with the lectures originally given by Inayat Khan in San Fransisco during 1923, which discuss the signifigance of the poets for our lives. The book is quite possibly the best anthology of Persian Sufi Poets currently available.

About the Author
Coleman Barks, Translator

Customer Reviews

This book is an exciting introduction to five Persian poets.
Most poetry lovers have discovered Rumi. In this book Rumi and four other mystic poets are celebrated. The five lectures given by Pir-o-Murshid Inagyat Khan, who is credited with bringing Sufism to the West, are fascinating mini bios of the five men. The lectures were given in San Franciso in 1923 and have been translated by Coleman Barks. There are notes included by Barks as well. Rumi considered two of these poets his poetic masters: Attar and Sanai. Fariduddin Attar was a perfumist, a doctor and a poet. He was born in Nishapur in 1119. His most famous poem is "The Conference of the Birds". My favourite is "Mysticism" in which he writes "I met a woman once and asked her where love had led her. 'Fool, there's no destination to arrive at. Loved one and lover and love are infinite'. There is a list of "Sources" in the back of the book so readers can find more on the poets that especially resonate with them. As Rumi wrote: "Listen to presences inside poems. Let them take you where they will."

Amazing Introduction to Sufi Poetry
This book is a beautiful introduction to the world of Sufi poetry. The five featured poets are each dazzling masters of language whose works grow richer with each re-reading. The greatest part of this book, however, is the amazing introductions by Inayat Khan. His words are full of both wisdom and beauty. They will enchant any who read them and, like the poetry, they will provide the reader a great deal to think about.

Sets out the idealistic to develop the human character
This book is indispensible.It is a very good book to keep in the house & share reading with the rest of the family.Often we find that with the fast way of life today & with the breakdown of the family unit that essential knowledge & wisdom of grandparents & the older generations is not passed down to the present youth so the young miss out on that invaluable knowledge of the experienced people.Well this book will bridge that gap.This book is particularly relevant to young families with small children who aspire to give their kids the best start,because it lays down the foundations of how to sow the seed of a good character in children.