Dearest Honey Dawn,
While I followed the posts regarding your query, I am somewhat "late to the parade" in providing an offering.
Yes, you can read all the books in the world on Sufism or any spiritual path for that matter. Some books may offer a few clues or hints about a particular path. But they are all emanations from an individuated being's experience. Even amongst "Sufi" written materials, one can find very disparate positions. Some, as in the case of one that you yourself mentioned, contains "doctrine." This is something that at least some Sufi orders, for instance my own Inayati lineage (offered to the world through Pir-o-Murshid Hazrat Inayat Khan), might be taken aback by because we see our spiritual path as free of doctrine and dogma. This is one excellent reason why it is best to find a living Sufi teacher and guide.
While this guide will not bang you on the head and open doors to realms previously unseen and transform you to some new state of being, a teacher/guide, through that direct and personal relationship, will likely point the way to doorways along the spiritual journey "Toward The One."
All that said, from my own early journey, I will suggest three books. Yes, I know. I tried to shy away from books.
SufiVision and Initiation by Samuel L. Lewis
Awakening by Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan
The Chasm of Fire: A Woman's Experience of Liberation Through the Teaching of a Sufi Master by Irina Tweedie
Peace and blessings that you find your teacher. Florida is a good place to start, especially if you find yourself drawn to Inayati orders, such as the Sufi Ruhaniat Int'l (ruhaniat.org) and Sufi Order Int'l (sufiorder.org) and Sufi Movement Int'l (sufimovement.org)
Vakil CJ Polevoy
"It is not enough to understand, or to see clearly. The future will be shaped in the arena of human activity, by those willing to commit their minds and their bodies to the task. " Robert F. Kennedy
Vakil CJ Polevoy
www.clearthemist.blogspot.com
www.ms-toolkit.blogspot.com
303-794-5358
303-929-3639 mobile
6440 S. Southwood Dr.
Centennial CO 80121
On Jun 22, 2009, at 7:53 PM, honeydawnwine wrote:
Thank you for your kind and warm response. I am in Florida, in the United States.
Today I received in the mail the book _Introduction to Sufi Doctrine_ by Titus Burckhardt. It came to me highly recommended,and I am looking forward to reading it.
All With Joy,
Honey Dawn
--- In cheraglibrary@yahoogroups.com, CAK <cak48@...> wrote:
>
> Welcome to CheragLibrary, HoneyDawn,
>
> If you would like to share where you are in the world, perhaps we
> could suggest some possible connections you could make with Sufi
> teachers and groups. It's hard to beat working with living teachers
> within community.
>
> With Love,
> Siraj al-Haqq
>
> On Jun 20, 2009, at 11:06 AM, honeydawnwine wrote:
>
> > Hello to All;
> >
> > I am new to the group and have a desire to study/practice/
> > experience/be sufism. My background is Roman Catholicism (and have
> > studied/practiced Hinduism (am classical Hatha Yoga instructor)and
> > Zen Buddhism, with great gratitude and respect...also, ordained
> > priestess in FOI, Pagan/Wicca. Have studied and practiced Santeria
> > and Voudun as well. The paths were different, the destination
> > always the same.
> >
> >
> > I humbly ask today is someone can recommend where I begin my
> > practice/study of Sufism...am so very new to this understanding and
> > so touched by what I have read. I know nothing.
> >
> > Can anyone help? I would be grateful for any and all direction
> > anyone would be so kind as to provide.
> >
> > All with Joy,
> > HoneyDawn
>
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