The Garden of Truth: The Vision and Promise of Sufism, Islam's Mystical Tradition

I have so much love for what author Seyyed Hossein Nasr has achieved here, offering his gift of education that covers Sufi history, locations, figures, orders, essential works, philosophy, and application. He is a proud Muslim, but his text never felt like it had an agenda, and let me assure you, when it comes to Islamic mysticism, only an Islamic voice can tell it.Even with Nasr's knack for simplifying the intricacies of such a complex topic, it's still a challenging read, not because of testing language or confusing concepts but because the information is so rich. Page after page dropped spiritual bombs into my brain, and I'd soon clog up, my mind wandering off due to the contemplative content. I'd regularly have to take breaks just to allow my thoughts to simmer, but what I always came back to was this: Sufism is the real deal.I finish this title with a sense of receiving secret knowledge and having inched ever closer to God. As a result, Sufism is the first mysticism that genuinely connects with me, which is an impact I shall treasure forever. I owe that to this work. If someone told me the Garden of Truth was a sacred holy book central to a world religion, I would believe it. I'd even tout it as one of the best.

The Garden of Truth by Dr. Seyyed Hossain Nasr is profoundly powerful book I have ever read on Sufism it clarifies what Sufism is and lays a foundation on which on can begin in journey with a better understanding of where one is headed. The book doesn’t pretend to be the substitute for a master Sufi, I.e. one who has reached high level of Sufi learning who can provide a novice guidance. But in the absence of a master this is the best alternative to at least get a high level of understanding of the path of Sufism. I’m reading it for a second time and I recommend it highly.

Seems to be a very well organised explanation of Sufi beliefs and the path each aspirant must follow to reach the garden. The only issue with these type of books is that they tantalize you into wanting to follow a spiritual path but show you that without a legitimate teacher you will never accomplish the path you want to set out on. The other main obstacle is reading the Quran, Sharia, Hadith in English translation which loses much of its spiritual force.

This is one of the finest English-language books about Sufism that I have yet to read. Most importantly, it is written by a man who is not only a professional scholar of the subject, but a practicing Sufi. His account, therefore, is at once both academically rigorous and spiritually nourishing. Its content is accessible to the sincere layman.

There are various books on Sufism, but I liked this one the best so far.I tried Martin Lings ,Gai Eaton, Adbul Qadir Gilani and some works of Imam Ghazali but found that, although they are good, make a gray subject grayer..Sufism is esoteric for sure ( it can be confusing and perhaps misleading if you don't have a proper background ) but this book is a great lucid introduction to it.I really liked for e.g. how Nasr talks about the topic of Love. For that alone the book is worth reading.