Neil Douglas-Klotz offers a radical new translation of the words of Jesus Christ with Prayers of the Cosmos. Reinterpreting the Lord's Prayer and the Beatitudes from the vantage of Middle Eastern mysticism, Douglas-Klotz, the Sufi Founder of the worldwide network of the Dances of Universal Peace, reveals a mystical, feminist, cosmic Christ. Prayers of the Cosmos is a spiritual revelation--and in the words of Science of Mind, When you read this book, you will have no further doubt that God loves you infinitely and unconditionally.

Neil Douglas-Klotz has distilled his decades of rigorous scholarship, deep practice, and revolutionary insight into a potent elixir for our times. --Mirabai Starr, translator of Julian of Norwich: The Showings and author of Wild Mercy

This book is an approach to Jesus's recorded words and teachings through his native language, Aramaic, answering many questions clearly and consistently, even if unexpectedly, no matter which Gospel you have in your hands.

From the Introduction:

Jesus's teachings have been used historically to fuel what became modern Western culture, with all its pluses and minuses. At the same time, viewed through his native language, the same teachings provide a solution to our culture's greatest challenges, pointing the way toward a proper use of our human individuality and will.

Through expansions of Aramaic's multiple meanings as well as guided contemplations, Revelations of the Aramaic Jesus provides a guide to transformation through the way of the prophet of Nazareth. It shows how Jesus's deepest teachings address contemporary challenges, such as our relationships with nature and each other, as well as the purpose of life itself.

Revelations of the Aramaic Jesus is a guide to living an authentic interior life without dogma and a spiritual path that makes you more comfortable in your own, providing a sense of meaning and purpose.

The Aramaic translations of Klotz cut through the rote and bring us to the deeper meanings of Jesus's teaching that can still touch our hearts, move our souls, and ignite our action.--Matthew Fox, author of Original Blessing

Neil Douglas-Klotz, bestselling author of Revelations of the Aramaic Jesus, offers new translations from Jesus's native language in the form of a meditation a day, an oracle, or a guide for a forty-day retreat. Through expansions of Aramaic's multiple meanings as well as guided contemplations, The Aramaic Jesus Book of Days provides a guide to transformation through the way of the prophet. It shows how the deepest teachings of Jesus address contemporary challenges, such as our relationships with nature and each other, as well as the purpose of life itself.

In short chapters, the book takes up life themes you're facing and offers meditations to address them. Each chapter is introduced with a short saying and keyword of Jesus, heard with Aramaic ears, and then proceeds to show how this applies to a life issue today. This book offers a unique perspective on Jesus's teachings that can help you to connect with them on a deeper level and live a more authentic, fulfilling, and compassionate life.

In two previous books, Neil Douglas-Klotz pioneered a radical new way of translating the words of Jesus---filtering them through the imagistic worldview of the Aramaic language which Jesus himself spoke. Seen through this lens, familiar sayings such as Blessed are the meek come into vibrant contemporary focus as Healthy are those who have softened what is rigid within.

In The Hidden Gospel, Douglas-Klotz employs this approach to decode the spiritual and prophetic messages hidden within key words and concepts in the sayings and stories of Jesus. We learn to our delight, for instance, that when Jesus spoke of goodness he used a word which in Aramaic means ripe and refers to actions which are in time and tune with the Sacred Unity of all life.

The Hidden Gospel aims to bridge the gap between the historical Jesus of the scholar and the Jesus of faith of Christian believers. It will appeal to everyone looking for an alternative spiritual vision of Jesus and his message.

A dervish guide to life and love for the twenty-first century

Part meditation book, part oracle, and part collection of Sufi lore, poetry, and stories, this handbook offers a fresh interpretation of the fundamental spiritual practice found in all ancient and modern Sufi schools--the meditations on the 99 Qualities of Unity.

Unlike most books on Sufism, which are primarily collections of translated Sufi texts, The Sufi Book of Life explains how to apply Sufi principles to modern life. Author Neil Douglas-Klotz expertly bridges the gap between the Sufi qualities and contemporary concerns such as love, work, and success, and punctuates this all with timeless wisdom from Sufi masters, both ancient and modern, such as Rumi, Hafiz, Shabistari, Rabia, Inayat Khan, Indries Shah, Irina Tweedie, Bawa Muhaiyadden, and more.

On the web: http: //sufibookoflife.com

Part oracle, part meditation book, and part Aladdin's cave of Middle Eastern myth and sacred story, Desert Wisdom offers a fresh way to hear the ancient visionary voices of the Middle East that generated three (or more) of the world's great religions.

Renowned Sufi scholar and teacher Neil Douglas-Klotz, author of The Sufi Book of Life and Prayers of the Cosmos, has revisioned his acclaimed 1995 classic for the 21st century. Praised by scientists, poets and mystics alike for its ecological approach to hearing the native wisdom of the Middle East on its own terms, Desert Wisdom takes us on a journey from ancient Egypt throughout the Middle East to Sufi poets like Rumi and Hafiz. In between, we spend time hearing Genesis the way a storyteller might have told it and sit at the feet of the Aramaic-speaking prophet, Yeshua of Nazareth. Through it all, Desert Wisdom presents us with ancient wisdom about life's biggest questions like:

Why am I here? Who am I? And how do I love?

Middle Eastern enchantment for the soul. Bravo!
--Fred Alan Wolf, Ph.D., featured in the film What the Bleep Do We Know?

Read this book aloud. Let the sounds wrap around your heart. These are translations so unhampered by reduction, stiffness and religiosity that the modern window opens quiet on the ancient garden.
--Carolyn McVickar Edwards, Author of The Storyteller's Goddess

A prophetic and mystical accomplishment of the first order!
--Dr. Matthew Fox, author of Original Blessing and The Reinvention of Work

Open the book anywhere, and you will discover delightful inner openings and insights.
--Shaykh Fadhlalla Haeri, author of Sufi Links and Spectrum of Reality

Already have the first (1995) edition?

What's New in Desert Wisdom 2.0:

*Seven new translations from the Aramaic words of Jesus.

*Ten new translations from the Hebrew (Genesis, Zohar and Dead Sea Scrolls).

*Three new translations from the Qur'an.

*Book reorganized for better use as an oracle in a similar format to The Sufi Book of Life.

*Meditations rewritten and keyed to Life's Big Questions.

*All notes and commentary revised and updated.

*New Quick Start Guide and Preface.

*Complete indexes to meditations and textual strands, plus a new general index

*Plus: all translations from the first edition revised and updated, with improved transliteration of original texts.

The stories in this book are drawn from the dozens that Douglas-Klotz has enjoyed telling in his seminars over the past 20 years. Most of them appear in works of the classical Sufis, such as Rumi, Attar, or S'adi. To preserve some of the in-person feeling and bring the language up to date, he has given them his own improvised turns.

If you want to hear a good story but prefer to read it instead, then read Douglas-Klotz! He writes as if he's sitting in your living room, invited over for afternoon tea to entertain you with some heart-pleasing, often humorous, yet soul-searching Sufi stories. His modernization of these old texts is gentle and mindful, yet unapologetic. --Maryam Mafi from the Foreword

...gripping...mesmerizingly real.... Kirkus Reviews

First century CE, Roman Palestine: Yehuda Tauma believes he's found his lucky break when he finds a valuable pearl on the floor of the temple of Jerusalem where he works as a scribe. Convinced that his position at the temple only serves to maintain the network of corruption and greed that he eschews, Yehuda and his bodyguard Ioannis set out for a new life in Damascus. But when they come upon the body of Yehuda's adopted father and mentor outside the village of Armageddon, Yehuda vows to find the killer and uncover the reason he was killed. Ever loyal, Ioannis promises to accompany Yehuda on his avenging mission. As the two men search for the killer, they meet surprising allies and treacherous adversaries along the way. Yehuda and Ioannis must unravel the intricate secret messages and visionary clues left behind by the dead man-while trying to stay alive themselves.

Renegade scribes, revolutionary cells, temple spies, oppressive tyrants, and visionary prophets and priestesses collide in this mystery of the volatile first century in the Middle East.

The mystery itself is gripping enough-unfurling slowly, tantalizingly-but the history provided as a backdrop to the fictional narrative is mesmerizingly real.--Kirkus Reviews

a] subtle blend of genres with mystic elements...the 'whodunit' storyline and some well-chosen characters keep the book entertaining and very enjoyable...reads very easily for such an intellectually stimulating novel.--Historical Novel Society

A moving personal history of how Sufism and Zen came to America.... The story of meetings with remarkable beings like Swami Papa Ramdas, Nyogen Senzaki, Sokeian Sasaki, Mother Krishnabai, Pir-O-Murshid Hazrat Inayat Khan, the Rev. M.T. Kirby and others who sought to bring East and West together through the universality of genuine mystical experience... A sweeping and prophetic view of the last half-century of international relations with the East....

Political and religious turmoil in faraway Iands, organic agriculture and seed exchange for peace, the great mystics and sages of the 20th century--all play a part in this story of an American scholar and scientist's search for truth.

I have no fonder memory of the 60's than the appearance of this strange-looking man, who said things which made me first laugh, then smile, then later pause in appreciation of a spiritual original, a pioneer. - Dr. Jacob Needleman, author of The New Religions

Everytime I remember Sam, I end up laughing at myself. That's pretty good work for a dead-rascal-saint. - Ram Dass, author of Be Here Now

By being spiritual, Samuel Lewis expanded the range of being human; and by being human he deepened the meaning of being spiritual. -Moineddin Jablonski, spiritual successor of Murshid Samuel Lewis

Illuminating the Shadow collects the Sufi writings of Moineddin Carl Jablonski (1942-2001), the spiritual successor of Samuel L. Lewis, founder of the Dances of Universal Peace and originator of a branch of the Chishtia Sufi lineage currently called the Sufi Ruhaniat International.

The book weaves autobiography, letters, poems, articles and interviews to provide a unique glimpse of an illuminated Western-born mystic. Jablonski faced enormous inner and outer challenges as he sought to establish an authentic, living Sufi tradition in the West.

A book of subtle messages which will challenge and inspire any serious seeker, regardless of ethnic or religious background.
-Muneera Haeri, author of The Chishtis: A Living Light and co-author with Shaykh Fadhlalla Haeri of Sufi Links

This book illuminates, in his own words, the life of a gentle and gifted soul. Over the three decades I knew Moineddin Jablonski we enjoyed many intimacies, including countless hours of music-making, the study of Sufism under his guidance, and open, spacious darshans. I thought I knew him well. But in reading Illuminating the Shadow I received a newly clear, coherent picture of the whole man in all his glories and tortures, and I've come to love him as never before. Thanks to this savvy presentation of his writings, Moineddin's vision can now light the way for many more seekers of the realized life.
-W. A. Mathieu, author of The Listening Book and Bridge of Waves

Moineddin Jablonski came to a true realization of heart and manifested a capacity for great love. This helped him, in a natural and unassuming way, to guide and hold together the community of Murshid Samuel Lewis' mureeds, which included various teachers who had been empowered by Murshid Sam or Pir Vilayat. Moineddin realized the need for all of us to acknowledge the psychological realm where we are often at the mercy of our ego-demands.
He took on the difficult task of getting everyone to see that they would be held accountable for their actions. His numerous letters and writings clearly reveal his depth of thought. And while his manner was saintly and refined, at the same time he stood eternally strong in his relationship with his teacher and united with the great blood stream of Oneness, in which we live and move and have our being. He worked for harmony between all the lineages that trace themselves to Pir-o-Murshid Hazrat Inayat Khan. All this and more made him a highly effective Pir, as this excellent book bears witness.
-Wali Ali Meyer, co-author of Physicians of the Heart

...a rich compendium of anecdote and teaching of the eclectic and universalist shaman, Moineddin Carl Jablonski, direct heir to Samuel Lewis, Sufi and Zen master. Illuminating The Shadow is an important read for anyone interested in the Light and Shadow of our human story, and the journey of the soul. Douglas-Klotz adds to the current mystical wisdom stream with this poignant exposition of the life, love and laughter of this Sufi leader and humble practitioner.
-Mariam Baker, author of Woman as Divine: Tales of the Goddess

We are indeed entering a new era of humanity, a time of massive inner and outer change and growth. Earth herself is giving birth to what she must become. Upheaval-personal, societal, and geologic-are the labor and birth pangs which will create greater consciousness of spiritual reality for all. As each one of us is moved into Soul-consciousness, and we are being so moved, we will select our own modes of spiritual realization. What we now know as 'Sufism' will become vastly expanded and transformed. It will be like the reported meeting of Inayat Khan and Nyogen Senzaki. They entered samadhi together, 'and Sufism and Zen became like yesterday's dream.'
-Moineddin Jablonski

Eine geheimnisvolle Welt ffnet sich: Scheinbar vertraute Worte und Botschaften des Jesus aus Nazareth werden aus seiner aram ischen Muttersprache ganz neu f r uns bersetzt. Der aram ischen Jesus redet, lehrt und verk ndet wie ein eingeborener Prophet und Mystiker der W ste. Staunend begegnen wir uralter Weisheit, erfarhen kosmische Weite, ekstatische Liebe zur Sch pfung und spirituell-k rperliche Heilung.Was dabei herauskommt, ist eine hoffnungsvolle, n hrende und sehr zeitgem e spirituelle Botschaft. Neil Douglas-Klotz' klarer Kommentar f hrt uns dazu, die alte Weisheit Jesu auf unser heutiges Leben anzuwenden. Jedes Kapitel enth lt meditative bungen und K rpergebete, damit wir die lebensver ndernde geistliche Praxis der urspr nglichen mystischen Tradition Jesu direkt erleben k nnen.Dieses Buch ist ein Geschenk an alle, die in den Geist des historischen Jesus und des mystischen Christus eintreten wollen. Indem sie die Menschen in Jesu Land und ihrer poetischen Sprache ehrt, bringt sie ein notwendiges Gleichgewicht in die historische Jesusbewegung. Sie macht starre und dualistische bersetzungen der christlichen Schriften r ckg ngig und weckt so die Frohe Botschaft, die nach all den Jahrhunderten immer noch eine Botschaft ist, auf, fordert und erneuert sie.--Dr Matthew Fox, Autorin von Original Blessing and The Coming of the Cosmic Christ.Dr. Neil Douglas-Klotz ist ein international bekannter Theologe und Psychologe, Autor der B cher Das Vaterunser, Segen aus dem Kosmos, Die Urspr ngliche Meditation und Sufibuch des Lebens. In seiner Arbeit vers hnt er die aram isch-christliche, j disch-mystische und sufistische Tradition. Regelm ssige Kurse und Workshops im deutschsprachigen Raum. Er wohnt in Schottland.

Heute beherrschen apokalyptischer Bilder alles -vom populären Film bis zur fundamentalistischen Religion. Aber das menschliche Bewusstsein wurde während des grö ten Teils seiner Geschichte von der Ausrichtung auf den Anfang, nicht auf das Ende, bestimmt. Die Themen der Schöpfungsgeschichte und die damit einhergehenden lebendigen Praktiken durchziehen sowohl die hebräische Bibel als auch die Evangelien.In der späteren christlichen Tradition blieb die Praxis, die Schöpfungsgeschichte in sich selbst nachzuvollziehen, in den Schriften keltischer und europäischer christlicher Mystiker wie Pelagius, Johannes Scotus Eriugena und Meister Eckhart erhalten. Die Auffassung von der Schöpfungsgeschichte als tatsächlicher spiritueller Praxis nimmt auch eine zentrale Stellung sowohl in der jüdischen als auch in der islamischen Mystik ein. Das Buch untersucht auch, wie die moderne westliche Welt diese lebendige Weitsicht verloren hat, und unterbreitet Vorschläge, wie wir beginnen könnten, sie zurückzugewinnen.Dr. Neil Douglas-Klotz bringt dem Leser sowohl den Hintergrund als auch die Erfahrung der Ursprünglichen Meditation nahe. Sie vermag es uns eine Vision davon zu vermitteln, was es hei t, vollkommen menschlich zu sein.

What you cannot learn in your own body, you can learn nowhere else.--the UpanishadsA Book of Self Re-Education is a treasure house for all who wish to explore the creative essence of life in the substances of their bodily form. Raden Ayou Jodjana (1888-1981), beloved student of the Sufi Murshid Hazrat Inayat Khan and devoted wife of Prince Raden Mas Jodjana, the great Javanese dancer, here expresses the inexpressible teaching of these two great masters in moving prose poems that are a step-by-step guide to waking up fully inside our human bodies.To give attention. It is the simplest and the purest act of love. The greatness, the joy, the rapture and the beauty of all love, depends on the intense receptivity of our attention.So open wide the whole body. Receive the incoming tide of space. Open the body from the centre. So that your whole being can absorb all that wishes to be felt and known by you, with the full and silent comprehension of love.

Sterling's remarkable and deeply inspiring account is a real-life Meetings with Remarkable Men for the 21st century.

-- G. A. Lipton - Author of Rethinking ibn Arabi

This book has been in the making for nearly two decades. As my experiences multiplied over the years, I found myself sharing these experiences in gatherings - big and small - especially among the Sufi community I had been a member of for the better part of four decades. As time passed these stories became a regular feature in our annual gathering. It seemed no matter how many times I would repeat them they never lost their freshness and veracity to touch people's hearts and inspire the mind and imagination of the miraculous-ness of life and the unique gift of life's experiences we all share.

As time went on the volume of stories grew. It became clear that I needed to do justice to these experiences and share them with a greater audience. This inspiration was confirmed and magnified by Shaykh Fadhlalla Haeri who encouraged me to collect these stories all together and share them widely for the benefit of others that would surely be touched and inspired. It was a struggle for me to corner myself and actually write these stories down. I had been in the habit of performing them as is common in the Sufi tradition of oral storytelling. After much reflection I realized my reticence for writing these down was an egoic attachment to performing them, that I had become identified as a persona Hajj Mustafa - the Sufi Storyteller. It was an ugly but needed realization which led me to put aside storytelling for a while. Overtime, with the grace of God, this inclination dissolved and replaced with a compulsion to share these stories not as an act of self-aggrandizement, but of gifts given to me with the responsibility to pass them on to others. The stories in this book are from my life's experience, but my life is a gift of the Life-Giver and the best one can do is get out of the way and be present in the moment as it flows through one. This is what I have attempted to do here in this book and He knows the truth of all things.

I hope you in-joy these stories.

ENDORSEMENTS

I have respected and loved Hajj Mustafa for so many years that I cannot even count them.
The quality that I have enjoyed - and know others do too - is his story-telling ability, which carries considerable meaning and always have an ever-lasting transformational effect on others.

It's a rare situation to have someone who has had most of their life searching, investigating and enjoying meetings with remarkable and enlightened people.

His honesty, truthfulness and courage are the outstanding qualities that will come out in most of what he is conveying in his book.

This book is indeed one of the best ones in our times!

-- Shaykh Fadhlalla Haeri - An Enlightened Spiritual Master and Author

David Sterling's remarkable stories are a collection of gems that he has spent a life-time threading with the light of his soul.

The reader will journey along with David, connecting one gem to the other eventually to the presence of the Source, where all gems are gathered together in one sparkling message of unity and purpose.

-- Dr. Adan al-Adani - Author of Lights of Consciousness