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The Qur'an Volume 1: Surahs 1-3
Translation by Camille Adams Helminski Numerous keys are available to us to open the deeper meaning that lives within us; the words of the Holy Qur’an are such keys. Camille Adams Helminski offers in this Volume I, a fresh English translation of the first three surahs of the Quran—Surah al-Fatiha, Surah al-Baqarah, and Surah Al-‘Imran, which convey the principles of human ethics, encouraging us to turn again and again to realignment with our Source. Occasional transliterations of the original Arabic are also included to remind us of the beauty of the original revelation.Camille Adams Helminski’s The Qur’an Volume 1: Surahs 1-3 is a beauty-full, light-full rendering of the word of God. It is filled with so many insightful choices drawn from the heart of the Islamic tradition. Two examples will suffice: In the translation of the Fatiha, the phrase “ghayr al-maghdub ‘alayhim” is (accurately) rendered as “not the path of those who have brought stringency upon themselves.” In other words, the ghadab (wrath/anger/stringency) is the result not of God having wrath on us, but a consequence of our own choices. Also, translating Allah not merely as “God” but also as “Divine Reality” conveys a sense of the grandeur and majesty of the Divine. Insights like this abound in Helminski’s wonderful volume. Highly recommended for Muslims seeking to go deeper into the mysteries of the Qur’an, and spiritually seeking friends seeking to explore the Qur’anic roots of the Sufi path. ~ Omid Safi (Founder, Illuminated Tours and Courses)
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THE WAY OF MARY, MARYAM, BELOVED OF GOD is a weaving of strands from ancient sources, traditional stories, poetry, and prayers of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism, and beyond (with full color illustrations), to reveal, through the illuminated being and life stations of Beloved Mary, the palpable Oneness of all Creation, our Oneness in Spirit. Rather than a “reading about”, it is offered as a “being with,” a heart journey, for any seeker yearning for greater intimacy with God, the vibrant Source of Life, our Loving Sustainer.My Beloved speaks and says to me: Rise up, my love, my fair one and come. . . .
[See more below and testimonials] -
The Sufi Path to Mindfulness and the Essential Self
By Kabir Helminski Revised 25th anniversary edition Sufism is a centuries-old spiritual psychology leading to presence in life. Presence is our capacity to be whole in the moment, in alignment with our deepest wisdom. With unusual clarity, this book describes how presence is different from ordinary habits of mind, and how it can be developed. Drawing on the words of the great Sufi, Rumi, as well as traditional material and personal experience, this book integrates the wisdom of Sufism with the needs of contemporary life. Also available as an Amazon Audible audiobook, narrated by Iman Mortagy. -
A Sufi Path of Transformation
By Kabir Helminski As human beings we stand on the threshold between two realities: the world of material existence and the world of spiritual Being. The “knowing heart” is the sacred place where these two dimensions meet and are integrated. In Sufi teaching the human heart is not a fanciful metaphor but an objective organ of intuition and perception. Available as an audiobook through Amazon Audible, narrated by Daliah Merzaban -
The Living Tradition of Sufi Teaching By Kabir Helminski Introduction by Mahmoud MostafaNew and available on Amazon, both Paperback and Kindle!
The chapters of this book are transcriptions of talks and dialogs from within a private circle of spiritual practitioners. This collection explores subjects such as developing intention, will, awareness, awakening our capacities for love, reducing the domination of ego, honoring the masters, saints, and prophets that have gone before. As the saying goes, "The body is fed through the mouth; the soul is feed through the ear." Praise for In the House of Remembering:The thirty remarkable short lessons assembled here are fascinating exemplars of suhba (sohbet), the traditional Sufi process of “companionship”: i.e., the illuminating relationship of inner conversation that links the spiritual guide and each listener, awakening the soul’s unfolding remembrance of that Teacher we all share. Reading these talks, with their smoothly unfolding mix of Sufi stories, Rumi’s poetry, illuminating personal experiences, and scriptural reminders, constantly feels like being in the presence of a modern-day Rumi. Those pedagogical elements may be familiar to some, but here they are infused with a palpable universality, accessibility, practical focus, comprehensiveness—and above all, with a constant, assured sense of reality and immediacy—that movingly reflect a lifetime of spiritual experience, commitment, and engagement with fellow journeyers from many different religions, cultures, and pathways of realization. Whatever their ostensible subject, each conversation here evokes a marvelous balance—and creative tension—between communion and community, meditation and active service, awareness of the timeless and immersion in the shared challenges of everyday life. This is truly a “bedside book,” a work that will seem (and be) new and enlightening each time one opens it up…. ~Prof. James W. Morris, Boston College, author of The Reflective Heart
These illuminating discourses, covering a wealth of themes relating to the inner life, open an accessible and refreshing window to the mature practical spirituality within the living tradition of Sufism. Rooted in the spontaneous guidance and connection of hearts that occurs in the healing and nurturing practice of Sohbet, they carry the direct, immediate and intimate voice of that quality of spoken language that is not distanced by abstraction, encumbered by complexity, or entangled in the knots of the rational mind. This is the work of an authentic teacher who helps us in sincerity and love to reflect deeply on our inner states within the concrete reality of our daily lives and by so doing to come ever closer to our longed-for awareness of Divine Unity. ~Jeremy Henzell-Thomas, essayist and former Visiting Fellow at the Centre of Islamic Studies, University of Cambridge
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Stories of the Lovers of God: Excerpts from the Manaqib al-'Arifin of Aflaki
Selected and translated by Camille Helminski, with Susan Blaylock Originally written by Ahmad Aflaki, a devoted follower of the grandson of Rumi, this translation relates anecdotes of the life of Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi, his father, wife, sons, and daughter and his relationship with Shams of Tabriz and other close companions and disciples. Read a review by Spirituality & Practice. -
Through this second collection in the “Songs of the Soul” series, we encounter a world where Divine Grace is always with us and every moment is an opportunity to “begin again” in God’s Name. Whether amidst expansion or contraction, whether witnessing the intricacies of the human body or the canopy of the stars, Camille Hamilton Adams Helminski draws our attention to something subtle yet intoxicating with Its Beauty. Her clarity of vision, as well as her appreciation of the Mysterious, compels us to witness the workings of the Divine within our lives, with wonder, opening the heart to this Love, our very Life, the Source of our breath—this Force that pours through us and knows no boundaries! -
The prayers recited daily by Mevlevi dervishes
Translated by Camille Helminski and Mahmoud Mostafa The Mevlevi Wird, the Mevlevi litany of prayers that has been recited daily by Mevlevi dervishes for hundreds of years, is now available in English translation with accompanying transliteration and also Arabic text. Hardcover copies may be ordered through the Threshold Store. Please note the current blue cover version does not include the embossed gold destar. For orders in the USA please place your order through the PayPal button below. For orders outside the USA please contact rahima.mccullough@gmail.com -
Edited by Kabir Helminski Here is a collection of the most inspiring poetry of Rumi, small enough to take anywhere. It contains selections from four previously published books, as well as new translations of short lyric poems. -
Intimations of the Beauty and Power of the Divine by Camille Hamilton Adams Helminski We offer these reflections on the “Ninety-Nine Names of God,” traditional to Islam and the Quranic revelation, to support the increased opening of our awareness to all the Generosity and Loving-kindness of the Divine Bestowal. The Divine is so generous with the qualities of Being that in any moment they may be perceived in new ways, in varied intermingled resonances, with different hues, to touch our hearts and minds and souls and bodies, and awaken us in awe. Intimations of the Names, as they arrived within this heart, are included here in twos or threes or more, in clusters or constellations of Names, that we, dear reader, might be encouraged to look and witness again the dancing and singing of all the Names, even beyond the Ninety-Nine here expressed, in all the realms of our existence. -
Sufism, Transformation, and the Needs of Our Time
Islam once gave birth to a great civilization that respected religious diversity, freedom of conscience, and scientific thought, and Islamic knowledge contributed to the birth of humanism in the Renaissance. Today's world is desperately in need of a spirituality that is free of dogma, based in experiences not beliefs, one that can reconcile the human and spiritual realms. In his new book, renowned spiritual teacher and Sufi sheikh Kabir Helminski, gives us a compelling interpretation of spiritual or holistic Islam that will hearten contemporary Muslims looking for a faith suited for our times, and providing non-Muslims a brilliant introduction to this rich spiritual tradition. -
The Teachings of Shams of Tabriz
Translated by Camille Helminski and Refik Algan Revised edition with surah index Rumi’s Sun collects many lessons and discourses from Shams of Tabriz, the Sufi mystic and spiritual master who was the catalyst for Rumi’s awakening. His teachings and insights inspired much of Rumi’s poetry and are still celebrated today by all Sufis. Translated by two noted students of Sufism, Shams’ timeless teachings are presented here in their traditional order. -
A Hidden Treasure
Selected and introduced by Camille Helminski The luminous presence of women who follow the Sufi Way - the mystical path of Islam - is brought to life here through their sacred songs and poetry, their dreams and visions, and stories of their efforts as they witness the Truth in many realms. These writings reflect the honor and respect for the feminine in the Sufi worldview, and they are shared in the spirit of inspiration and hope for the flourishing contributions of women to the spiritual development of humanity. -
Rumi on the Heart's Journey
Translated by Ahmad Rezwani and Kabir Helminski Love is the meaning of our existence, the raw material of transformation, the glorious way of access to Divine intimacy. This teaching infuses the lyric verse of Rumi (1207–1273), the greatest of the Sufi poets. The poems in this collection, taken from among the master’s many volumes of work, focus on one of his greatest themes: how love grows and matures for those on the spiritual path. -
A Daybook of Verses from the Holy Qur'an
Translated by Camille Helminski The Light of Dawn is a daybook of inspiration composed of some of the most essential verses taken from all 114 chapters of the Qur'an offered in a fresh, lyrical, and gender-inclusive translation. With the explosion of interest in Islam, many people in the West have become interested in exploring the Qur'an, the scripture of one and a half billion people on this earth. -
By Camille Hamilton Adams Helminski Words from the East, this first in the series of "Songs of the Soul," poetic reflections from the pen of Camille Hamilton Adams Helminski, brings us into intimate contact with nature and the Source of Being. -
365 Poems and Teachings from the Beloved Sufi Master
Selected and translated by Kabir and Camille Helminski When the words of Rumi enter your heart, something softens, breaks, and is subtly reborn. That he wrote the words seven hundred years ago in a medieval Persian world that bears little resemblance to ours makes their uncanny resonance to us today just that much more remarkable. Here is a treasury of daily wisdom from this most beloved of all the Sufi masters—both his prose and his ecstatic poetry—that you can use to start every day for a year, or that you can dip into for inspiration any time you need to break through the granite of your heart. -
Civilization of Paradise is both a collection of Qur’an inspired poetry and a fascinating record of intimate dialogs with a Sufi master in Damascus. Poetry, in the case of Asad Ali, is a way of life and prayer. -
Selected Lyric Poetry of Yunus Emre
Translated by Refik Algan & Kabir Helminski Yunus Emre (d. 1320?), called the "greatest folk poet in Islam" (Talat Sait Halman), was an unlettered Turkish shepherd who sang mystical songs which are still popular today. He was the first of a whole tradition of Turkish Sufi troubadours who sang of the Divine Presence, the Beloved, the Friend. His songs/poems convey a profound yet earthy spirituality. His subject is the Heart, the point of awareness where God is realized in us. "I've come to build some heart," Yunus sings. We are proud to introduce this great poet to readers of English. -
By Jalaluddin Rumi Translated by Kabir Helminski Jalaluddin Rumi, one of the greatest mystics and poets the world has ever known, said, "love is a stranger and speaks a strange language." And yet Rumi's message of spiritual love speaks directly to our hearts after more than seven hundred years. This volume contains most of the earlier The Ruins of the Heart in revised form as well as an equal amount of new translations. A quintessential collection. -
Writings on Character and Virtue from Islamic and other sources
By Camille Helminski This anthology of writings on virtue and character from Islamic and other traditions has received universal praise internationally. This book will give a profound insight into the qualities of mercy, tenderness, generosity, and nobility that are at the heart of Islamic tradition at its best--virtues which are essentially universal. From the Prophet Muhammad and Imam Ali to Florence Nightingale and Mother Teresa. -
By Shaikh Badruddin of Simawna Commentary and translation by Tosun Bayrak al-Jerrahi In Inspirations (Waridat), Shaikh Badruddin interpreted many essential concepts of Islamic theology in an original and personal way which seems strikingly meaningful today. Melamiyya, or the "path of blame," is an approach to spiritual development within Islamic Sufism that avoids the appearance of piety and challenges the self-satisfaction of the ego. -
Desert Hymns
By Dr. Assad Ali The voice of these poems is the voice of the Desert in an ardent appeal to the heart of Reality. Each of these poems is also a lesson in higher education from a loving teacher, the Desert. As Dr. Ali himself says, "These hymns have not been written to address any one of the creatures, even though they are exuberant with creatures' concerns, and their true interest is in them and in appealing to God for them. They have been written in a method similar to physical training, but as spiritual training in the world of the body and the Word." -
Quatrains of Rumi
Versions by John Moyne and Coleman Barks Rumi's short poems have many tones and effects: some of them are quick, joyful, and whimsical; some are finely faceted abstract statements; some probe the inward space of patience and longing. Moyne and Barks translated these poems using a free-verse style, connecting these poems with great American spiritual poets such as Walt Whitman and Gary Snyder. -
Raji's Journeys with the Mirror Dede
By Ahmet Hilmi Awakened Dreams was written in the early 1900's at the end of the Ottoman era by Ahmet Hilmi -- humorist, revolutionary, and Sufi mystic. In this allegory of the soul's transformation, a confused and dissolute young man meets a wise mentor in a cemetery and is guided through a series of revelatory experiences. Raji meets Buddha, Zoroaster, and other prophets, experiences himself in strange new worlds, and journeys through the levels of spiritual attainment. Awakened Dreams has been used a teaching tool in various Sufi traditions for the last ninety years. -
Poetry and Teaching Stories from the Mathnawi of Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi
Versions by Coleman Barks These selections from the poetry of Rumi express the courage and intensity needed to overcome our ego-imprisonment. Much of Rumi's poetry circles around the mystery of Surrender. Some of it expresses a longing and even a bewilderment, but there is also much that expresses the discipline, clarity, and integrity that true Surrender requires. -
A Diary of a Traditional Sufi Retreat
By Michaela Ozelsel This first-hand account of a Sufi halvet (forty day retreat) is unique because it combines an autobiographical account of a spiritual education with contemporary research from several disciplines, thus being a bridge between ancient wisdom and scientific investigation. -
By Hasan Lutfi Shushud Almost one thousand years ago a nexus of spiritual transmission emerged in Central Asia and lasted for five centuries. This classic work lays out the entire lineage of teachers from the golden age of Islamic Sufism, examining their spiritual journeys, their writings and teachings, and their most famous sayings. Hasan Lutfi Shushud (1902-1988) was born near Izmir in Anatolia, Turkey. A renowned Sufi saint and master, he was perhaps best known for his role as final guide to Gurdjieff’s disciple J. G. Bennett. -
Poetry, Teaching Stories and Selected Letters of Rumi
Versions by John Moyne and Coleman Barks Yet another dimension of Rumi is revealed in these teaching poems from the Mathnawi, Rumi's most mature work. Also included are personal letters which have never before been available in a Western language. -
ompiled by Sheikh Tosun Bayrak al-Jerrahi al-Halveti Here is a contemporary presentation of the ninety-nine names of God according to the Islamic Sufi tradition. Compiled from the original Arabic and Turkish text of Al-Ghazzali, Ibn 'Arabi, Djili, and Abdulkadir Geylani, among others, this is the most extensive presentation available to readers in any Western language. -
By Muhammed Asad In this extraordinary and beautifully-written autobiography, Asad tells of his initial rejection of all institutional religions, his entree into Taoism, his fascinating travels as a diplomat, and finally his embrace of Islam. A unique book. Its haunting overtones will linger in the memory -- New York Hearld Tribune -
The Enlightened Heart of Islam
By Jamal Rahman The sweetest introduction to Islam you will ever read. Jamal Rahman shows that Islam is good therapy, as he reflects on the wisdom teachings at the heart of Islamic life, especially those exemplified by his grandfather who was a Murshid (wiseman) in a village in Bangladesh. Including many quotes from Rumi. -
Exploring the Spiritual Vocabulary of Islam
By Kabir Helminski This book clarifies more than 200 key Islamic spiritual, philosophic, and metaphysical terms, elucidating these within a comprehensive understanding of the human soul and its place in an eternal reality. Included is an important essay on Islamic epitemology by Prince Ghazi Bin Muhammad: Truth and Knowledge. -
A Sourcebook of Spiritual Perspectives On Nature and the Environment
By Camille Helminski An anthology of spiritual perspectives on nature and th environment. Camille's anthology will forever change how you see the natural world and our place in it. Themes from the Qur'an introduce each chapter, while the content is taken from the writing of great nature lovers from many cultures and traditions. [Paperback] -
Sayings of the Prophet Muhammad
Selected by Charles Le Gai Eaton Sayings of the Prophet Muhammad from the Mishkat al-Masabih, with an Introduction by Jeremy Henzell-Thomas. This collection highlights not only many of the most loved and important sayings of the Prophet (peace upon him), but many that reveal an unexpected, personal side of the man himself. -
A Daybook of Spiritual Guidance 365 Selections from the Mathnawi of Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi
Translated by Kabir and Camille Helminski Daylight presents Rumi's spiritual teaching concisely and comprehensively, in a translation that touches heart and mind. The Mathnawi, from which these selections are taken, can justifiably be considered the greatest spiritual masterpiece ever written by a human being. -
Versions of Rumi
By John Moyne and Coleman Barks "Felicitous new translations of Rumi, the witty and mystical, Villon-like poet... These reflections on love, the dance of selves, happiness, acceptance of life's sorrows, and the transitory nature of joy are touchingly sensitive in their search for philosophical peace of mind." -- Library Journal -
Tales of a Sufi Master in America
By Sheikh Muzaffer Ozak Generosity, faith, self-knowledge, submission, love... these themes unfold through the conversations of the Turkish Sufi master Sheikh Muzaffer, head of the Halveti-Jerrahi Order and one of the most important Sufi teachers of our time. A fine storyteller, a mature human being, a respected author in his native country, he was well-suited to bring the richness of the Sufi tradition to the West. The chapters of this book, skillfully edited and compiled by the noted psychologist Dr. Robert Frager, were derived from talks given during visits to America over the last years of his life. -
An Esoteric History of the Spiritual Unfolding of Life on This Planet
By J.G. Bennett J.G. Bennett was working on this book when he died. He details the unfolding of Spirit in matter to yield its ultimate fruit: a conscious human being totally free of egoism. He considers the possibility of an inner circle of humanity exerting its influence to establish cosmic Love in human life. In the course of telling this story, Bennett touches on the most ancient spiritual traditions of humankind: the Savior God, the Great Mother, the Creator God, and the Great Spirit traditions. He offers his own insights into the real mission of Christ, and for a good part of the book examines the teaching methods of the Central Asian Sufis, the Khwajagan. -
The Discourses of Jalaluddin Rumi
Introduction and Translation by W.M. Thackston, Jr. Signs of the Unseen, a translation of Rumi's Fihi ma Fihi, is a collection of his lectures, discourses, conversations and comments on various and sundry topics. In many cases the discussions preserved in this book provide us with the most sustained exposition available of his thought on a given topic. -
A Daybook of Spiritual Guidance from the Wisdom of Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi
Selected and translated by Kabir and Camille Helminski These "jewels" have been taken from Books III-VI of Rumi's masterpiece, the Mathnawi. A companion volume to the earlier Rumi: Daylight, this daybook may also be read in a turn-to-any-page approach. -
An Anthology of Translations of Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi
Here is a wonderfully rich introduction to the work of the great mystical poet, featuring the leading literary translations of his verse. Translators include Coleman Barks, Robert Bly, Andrew Harvey, Kabir and Camille Helminski, Daniel Liebert, and Peter Lamborn Wilson. The Rumi Collection also includes a biography of Rumi by Andrew Harvey, as well as an introductory essay by Kabir Helminski on the challenges of translating Rumi into English.
