In this compact volume, Seyyed Hossein Nasr, the renowned Islamic scholar, combines his research into Sufi doctrine and history with a rich account of the spiritual and metaphysical significance of Sufism as a living tradition. In an original discussion, unlike anything that has appeared before in studies of Sufism, the author places special accent on the pertinence of Sufi teachings to the most acute contemporary problems. Thus, this book answers ideally the present need for a lucid, succinct presentation of the principal aspects of Sufism coupled with a bold statement of its relevance for such modern problems as comparative religious study, ecology, and the apparent spiritual poverty of the contemporary world.

This new edition is revised and expanded to include a new preface and new chapter entitled "From Poem to Narrative in Sufism."