Phillip Gowins is an initiate and representative of the Sufi Order International. He was a student of Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan, who was named successor to his father, Hazrat Inayat Khan, founder of the Sufi Order International. There are about 2,000 members of this Order in the United States and an equivalent number in Europe. Gowins and his wife host a weekly meeting in their home for sharing and meditation. This book presents the spiritual path which the author has taken; it is free of proselytizing or any hint of trying to convert anyone to Sufism.
Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan wrote about his work:
"I am trying to develop an updated spirituality for our times. Following my father's message, I believe that to develop our being to its highest potential we need to discover our ideal and allow an inborn strength, a conviction in ourselves, to give us the courage toward developing this ideal. This requires both knowing our life purpose and mastery or discipline over ourselves in terms of body, mind, and emotions."
Everything begins for Sufis with making the most of your access to "the inner stream of love." The beauty that is within comes out through commitment as you polish your soul and nurture "the kernel of truth and purity that is what you already are." As you deal with personal problems, it is salutary to have a spiritual teacher who encourages and inspires you. Gowins writes lovingly about surrender to the Beloved and the intense yearning that is a key element in Sufism.
Throughout the book, the author presents meditative exercises to convey the practical dimension of Sufism. The character qualities which Gowins and his teachers advocate are authenticity, patience, and creativity. He passes on this advice to us:
"From time to time try to remember you are a being of light. This is a key concept in Sufism, one that cannot be described but can only be experienced. Our condition of light-being-ness is bigger, much bigger, than any personal problem that can possibly come along and annoy our physical vehicle — bigger, in fact, than the entire physical universe."
