Heart, Self, & Soul: The Sufi Approach to Growth, Balance, and Harmony

by Robert Frager and Dina Nayeri

Book Overview

Heart, Self, and Soul is the first book by a Western psychologist to explore the rich spiritual tradition of Sufism as a path for personal growth. Western psychotherapy aims largely to help us eliminate neurotic traits formed in childhood and adapt to society. In contrast, the Sufi goal is ultimately spiritual: Yes, we need to transform our negativity and be effective in the world; but beyond that, we need to reach a state of harmony with the Divine...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 083560778X
• ISBN13: 9780835607780
• Release Date: September 1999
• Publisher: Quest Books (IL)
• Length: 269 Pages
• Weight: 0.87 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.1" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Connection between psychology and spirituality

I love reading this book and recommended to group studies as well .It is easy to understand and full of short sufi tales. This book describes essence of islam which revolve around betterment of self ,purification and progression of soul.Islam inspire evolution of soul.This path of evolution is called sufism in modern term. Wonderful book for those who are intereted in spiritual quest. Exploring connection between spiritualty and psychology. It is also a good book for comparitive study between western and eastern psychology. Stories of sufis convey deep understanding of islamic views as well. One can learn a lot through this kind of exploration about ego. Postive and negative effect of ego on our soul.Application of concepts help one progress towards spiritual growth and purification.Help one understand human nature ,own self ,soul and distinguish between healthy qualities and egoistic distructive qualites hidden in every human being. How we should over come these negative tendencies hidden in us. First step is recognition of negativity with in us through meditation.Second step is Transformation of negative, distructive self thus cultivating positive qualties that leads to evolution of one self.

Sufism from the psychological perspective

Sheikh Muzaffer must have been a good Guru for initiating this author into sufism. Dr. Frager's understanding and contribution to sufism is valuable. His writing is easy to understand and practice [though page 173-174 is acceptable for those who are not yet Muslim; Muslim should refer to more valid intruction and guide]. What he shared at times touches my heart. Sufism/tasawwuf, or the spiritual component of Islam is the beautiful aspect of Islam; the right path to God as long as practiced according or within the syariah, the physical component. Dr. Frager, being a clinical psychologist was able to show how sufism could be incoporated into healing. This aspect of healing should be within the capacity of all muslim doctors.This book is suitable for lay person as well as specialist in medical or psychological field. It should be a must for psychiatrists in training, who probably have been exposed only to Fruedian or neofreudian thinking.

One of The Best Explanations of Sufism Given In The West

When one thinks of Sufism in the West, most often it is related to Rumi, or it is a very general apprehension of Sufism in a starkness that fails to convey it's heart and reality. This book is, as of yet still not very well known, but it will soon be very well known- because Robert Frager exposits the teaching, and psychology of Sufism in the most complete manner that has ever been done in the West. He is a scholar, but he is also a Sufi Shaykh, in the lineage al-Jerrahi al-Halveti. Shaykh Frager has had incredible, and powerful teachers in Shaykh Muzafer Ozak, and Shaykh Tosun Bayrak. This book contains the essence of what Shaykh Frager has benn teaching over the years. It is all here, finally put down in book, and is fantastic. The language of the book is intuitive, clear, and precise. It draws one to examine the one's self. The teachings on the nafs and the lower self are very serious and important. This is a path of Love in action. It teaches of the Eye of the Heart, or Intellect of the Heart as the reigning wisdom that subdues all ignorance, and obscuration of being-It shows you how. The spirit of true prayer is also conveyed by this book. It is a rich treasure that once ingested will remain in the soul for the rest of one's life. This book will prove to be vey hard to improve on. All praise to Allah!