excellent introductory reference. well-chosen, varied, succinct, and to-the-point quotations; not too few, not too many. pretty decent thematic organization

the most important improvement would b specific page numbers for the english tr. and original lang editions of the sources for each quotation; mb also v brief biographical details of the authors cited ( )

its a very good book for those who loves to read about sufi's ( )

Excellent introduction to Sufism for the non-Muslim reader ( )

Disjointed rag-tag quote book. ( )

In this compilation, Fadiman and Frager present to us the many faces of Islamic mysticism. They remind us that the spiritual path is different from the intellectual path, that a difference exists between contemplation and knowledge, that "the gnawing hunger of lonely men, is not appeased by information or facts". Paradoxically, as Bayazid Bistami affirms, "The thing we tell of can never be found by seeking, yet only seekers find it." In their aphorisms and anecdotes, the Sufis explain how, through the blessings of submission, faith, and love, one may come to know the face of the unknown. ( )