Towards the Summit of Reality : An Introduction to Baha'u'llah's Seven Valleys and Four Valleys

PART 1 NOTES ON SUFISM

What is Sufism? Origins, history, definitions, interpretations

Sufi Doctrine Metaphysics, cosmology, psychology, anthropology

Initiation and Sufi Orders Stations and states

The Mystic Way The path, knowledge or gnosis, truth



PART 2 THE COUNTRY OF THE SOUL: SYMBOLS, ALLEGORIES AND ALLUSIONS

IN THE SEVEN VALLEYS AND THE FOUR VALLEYS

The Pilgrim The journey, the wayfarer, the path, royalty, trees, meadows, deserts, animals

The Lover The beloved, love, the nightingale and the rose, the face and hair, wine and food

The Ascetic The heart, veils, sun, light, colours, fire, water, dust

Stories and Legends Prophets, love stories, angels, legendary personages, animals, places

Language and Literary Style Grammar and syntax, Arabic and Persian, allegories, quotations, the science of letters



PART 3 SUFI CONCEPTS AND CIPHERS REVISED BY BAHA'U'LLAH

God, Creation, the Worlds of God Sufi concepts of God, creation and the divine worlds, explained by Baha'ú'llah

The Manifestation of God A Prophet-Mediator? Station of the Manifestation, progressive revelation, teachings, secrets and mysteries

Man The divine trust, soul, self, spirit, reason and intellect, knowledge, the inner eye, certitude, witnessing, free will

The Spiritual Path Heedlessness, returning to God, resurrection, the stage of the heart, seeking, obedience, faithfulness, fear of God, detachment, astonishment, poverty, sleep and dreams



PART 4 BAHA'U'LLAH'S MYSTICAL PATH

The Journey of the Seven Valleys In Sufi literature and in Baha'u'llah's Writings

The Journey of the Four Valleys In Sufi literature and in Baha'u'llah's Writings
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