In 1244, the Sufi poet, Jallaludin Rumi, met a wandering seeker named Shams-i-Tabriz. Upon meeting, the two men immediately went into private retreat together and emerged 90 days later in a transformed condition. Rumi: Gazing at the Beloved reveals the esoteric practice that Rumi and Shams were engaged in.

The secret Rumi found in beholding the Divine in his sacred relationship with Shams-i-Tabriz • Shows how, in 1244, Sufi poet and mystic Jalaluddin Rumi was first brought to a state of ecstatic union with the cosmos and all its creatures • Reveals the radical spiritual practice Rumi formulated in his private retreat with the mendicant seeker Shams-i-Tabriz • Uses the poetry and prose of Rumi to explain how to come face-to-face with the Divine One of the most extraordinary events in the history of Sufism occurred in 1244 when the Sufi poet and mystic Jalaluddin Rumi met a wandering seeker named Shams-i-Tabriz. Upon meeting, the two men immediately went into private retreat together, emerging ninety days later in a transformed condition. In The Spiritual Practices of Rumi, Will Johnson reveals the radical spiritual practice that transpired between Rumi and Shams. To put it simply, they sat and gazed into each other’s eyes. Because the eyes are portals to the soul, their sustained gazing formed the basis of a devotional practice that opened the doors to a profoundly ecstatic state of divine union. Johnson draws on the poetry and prose of Rumi to unfold his story. He also explains how one may embark on the practice of intentional gazing to experience the state of ecstatic divine union shared by Rumi and Shams so many centuries ago.

Landmark translations of the Sufi poet/mystic Rumi from the acclaimed interpreter of the Tao Te Ching. Jonathan Star has assembled selections of Rumi's verse in a treasury that spans the poet's life and includes his most celebrated and poignant work. It is an enchanting volume of classic Eastern thought that creates an exhilarating experience for all readers.

The first English translation of the rubais of Rumi • Presents 233 of the most evocative of Rumi’s 1,700 rubais • Shows that the mystical embrace is the way to directly experience the Divine Rumi is well known for the over 44,000 verses that appear in a 23-volume collection called the Divan-i Kebir. Yet Rumi also composed 1,700 rubais, short aphorisms and observations, whose depth and message belie their brevity. The form of rubais first became well known through the 11th-century collection The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. But unlike Khayyam, who like most poets would sit and carefully craft each word, Rumi would compose and speak his poems through the spontaneous “language of poetry” that poured from his lips as he traveled the streets of Konya, Anatolia (present-day Turkey). Very few of Rumi’s rubais have been translated into any of the languages of the contemporary Western world. Now, Nevit O. Ergin, the translator of the complete Divan-i Kebir, and Will Johnson present here 233 of the most evocative of Rumi’s 1,700 rubais. Rumi’s poetry expresses profound and complex truths in beautiful yet simple language. He reveals that by going deep into the interior of our heart and soul, we can arrive at a place in which we once again merge and connect with the divine. This mystical quest, Rumi contends, is the birthright of us all. Anything less than a complete dissolving into the world of divine union will not provide the satisfaction and peace that we all seek. The simple, yet profound spiritual truths and visions contained in The Rubais of Rumi lead the way to the path of reconnection to the direct energies of God.

Drawing on the great love poet Jalaluddin Rumis writings, Sufi teachings, and shamanic techniques, Ross Heaven presents an utterly unique spiritual guidebook to love and relationships. Llewellyn

An account of spiritual awakening told through the rites of passage of a father and son • Reveals the essential role spirituality can play in our mundane lives • Celebrates not only traditional rites of passage, but also the more subtle moments of change that continually take place within each of us • Reflects on the power of prayer and intention in guiding our life journey Part spiritual travelogue, part personal memoir, The Sailfish and the Sacred Mountain is the story of the profound moments that forever change our lives, told in the context of a father and son’s journey to the sacred Mount Kailas in Tibet. Every moment in life is a moment of passage. While many culturally prescribed rites of passage--baptisms, bar mitzvahs, and confirmations--may not necessarily transform the participant into a higher level of maturity and understanding, there are many other moments that stand out as true passages into a new phase of life. These are the moments of triumph or of pain and defeat--the first taste of love, the birth of a child, the death of a loved one--moments after which we know, in the quiet of our hearts and minds, we will never be the same. The Sailfish and the Sacred Mountain presents a unique view into how we can create the circumstances that invite profound spiritual awakenings to occur in our lives and how we can recognize and embrace the powerful lessons these events have to offer. As Will Johnson reflects on his own life passages, he tells the story of the remarkable journey with his son to Mount Kailas--a journey that proves to be a moment of passage for both father and son.

“The manual for the nuts and bolts of relating that should be handed out at birth!” Heart of Relating invites you to take part in the growing movement towards communicating beyond your ego and persona, by learning the art of relating from the heart of who you are. Based on Eckhart Tolle’s words – “If you get the inside right, the outside will fall into place” – Heart of Relating explores Carmella B’Hahn’s ‘inside-out’ and ‘outside-in’ paradigms of relating to help you recognise where you are and where you want to be. Learning to relate from the heart of who you are – from the inside out. Written in 52 different sections – one for each week of the year – the powerful stories, quotes and transformative practices can be used to help build the skills needed for daily life. With so many books targeted at specific aspects of relationships – love, marriage, conflict resolution, etc. – Heart of Relatingcan help you with multiple aspects of relating, not only with primary relationships, but also with family, friends, colleagues and especially yourself. Aimed at giving you a conscious communication toolbox for life, this holistic book can be used as a structured course or as a resource that you can dip into when you need it most. Couples, friends, families and groups can use it to support each other, and therapists and teachers can use it as a handbook to support clients and students.

Finding the Monk Within is written with the conviction that lying deep within every person and underlying much of contemporary western and eastern cultures is an ancient memory, a vital archetypal energy related to monasticism and its spirituality. This book recovers that monastic memory, the living presence of the past, for those who desire to name and incorporate monastic values: values of solitude and silence, faith and compassion, friendship and mentoring, contemplation and leadership itself. The author examines the social and religious dimensions in the fourth century that gave rise to monasticism, then looks at Christian leaders from late antiquity to the medieval period associated with monasticism in both East and West who have much to teach about monastic values and their relevance for today, among them Antony, the "first monk," Augustine and Jerome, John Cassian, Brigit of Kildare and early Celtic monasticism, Gregory the Great, Benedict and Scholastica and, finally, Bernard of Clairvaux. "By studying the history of monasticism and its great heroes we come to realize that, for the Christian, much of what we call 'monastic' is purely and simply what being a follower of Christ is all about, and that being a monk, whether inside monastic enclosures or outside 'in the world, ' is simply becoming the sort of person everyone ought to be, a person who unites action and contemplation in the care of souls," writes the author. By becoming familiar with the stories and thought of these inspirational figures, readers will be inspired to incorporate monastic perspectives and values into their own lives. +

This clear and comprehensive reference on the full range of healing herbs is an indispensable guide to the herbal remedies most used in the Anglo-American and European traditions. Each remedy is defined in terms of its main pharmacological actions and its therapeutic application to modern health problems.

Exploring Christian text from a Hindu perspective, Ravi Ravindra takes readers into the heart of St. John's words, eloquently and convincingly revealing the interconnectedness of all faiths and the growing need in today's world for interfaith dialogue.