By the Grace of God, my spiritual guide knew far, far more than what he said to me or others. Unfortunately, I have forgotten far, far more than what I remember of what has been related to me by him.

Moreover, I have written far less than what I remember of what he taught me. The result of this funneling process is the present book - Streams To The Ocean

Everything which is good and correct in the aforementioned work comes, by the grace of God, through my spiritual guide or teacher who was willing to accept me as a reclamation project. Everything which is incorrect in Streams To The Ocean comes from my own shortcomings and ignorance.

The material contained within Streams To The Ocean is intended to stimulate reflection concerning a variety of themes which are important to spiritual life in the midst of everyday life. God willing, the content given expression through the different chapters constitutes, both individually as well as collectively, a mystical perspective.

However, one does not have to be on the mystical path or inclined to that path in order to engage the material in this book. Anyone with an interest in spirituality and mysticism will find, God willing, an abundance of themes within the boundaries of this work which are able to form the seeds of contemplative reflection for any faith background.

None of the topics is dealt with in anything remotely resembling a definitive manner. The idea was to introduce a problem, issue or focal orientation in each essay and, then, proceed, fairly quickly, to give something of the flavor of an esoteric perspective concerning the theme being considered, before moving on to another topic.

During the course of this book's ninety, relatively brief essays, a fair amount of introductory material is given concerning the nature of mysticism, in general, as well as a broad outline of the mystical path. Perhaps, this material will help correct a lot of misunderstandings which many people seem to have acquired in relation to both mysticism and the mystical path.

Although all of the essays of this work can be woven together to form, God willing, a unified whole, there is no need to read the essays in sequence. In fact, in some ways, the sequencing of the essays in the Table Of Contents is largely arbitrary and suggestive. If the reader wished to, alternate sequences of readings could be selected according to inclination and interest.

Each essay is linked, in a variety of ways, with the rest of the material of the book. Nonetheless, for the most part, few, if any, of the essays presuppose that other essays of Streams to the Ocean already have been read.

The material probably would be best read a little at a time. While one might be able to digest the information contained in each of the chapters within a short period of time, the reality which underwrites the information of any of these essays cannot be grasped so easily - not because of obscurity, but because of depth, richness and subtlety. Consequently, at the very least, each of these essays should be given time, reflection and serious consideration beyond that which is required to take in a certain amount of information.

Furthermore, the reader should not suppose the truths to which the essays allude can be understood fully merely through intellectual effort, or by one's own, unaided struggles. Indeed, there is far more beneath the conceptual surface of the Mystic way than the rational mind can conceive.

Streams To The Ocean is just a starting point. The real path lies beyond the horizons of this work.

There are numerous issues and topics beside the ones in this book that could have been discussed but which were not. Furthermore, other travelers on the mystical path might have treated the topics which were discussed in this work through a very different style, vocabulary and emphasis.

Considerable time was given to reflecting on the pros and cons of writing a book in terms of the form and content which this book has assumed. May God accept the intentions associated with the decisions that are being given expression through this work.

Finally, for various reasons, there may be a tendency in some readers to focus on certain chapters of this book and give priority to those section over other chapters. To do so would be a mistake.

The 90 chapters of Streams to the Ocean should be taken as a whole. Each chapter modulates each of the other chapters of this work.

In other words, all of the chapters taken together forma spiritual ecology. When one begins to remove issues and themes from their proper, spiritual, ecological relationships, then, misunderstanding is likely to arise under such circumstances.

Chapter Headings

In the Name of God    Fear    Fanaticism

Balance    Exoteric    Worship

Tasting    Music    Love

Awe    Dependence    Catalysis

Initiation    Remembrance    Certainty

Gardens    Beliefs    Justice

God    Identity    Patience

Hatred    Judgment    Intoxication

Association    Death    Guidance

Detachment    Gratitude    Light

Connection    Betrayal    Gifts

Jinn    Ascension    Freedom

Contentment    Commitment    Lineage

Annihilation    Devolution    Struggle

Ego    Reality     Government

Keys    Covenant    Integrity

Backbiting    Symbols    Gathered

Signs    Faith    Prayer

Etiquette    Aspiration    Friend

Be/Become    Curriculum    Science

Doubt    Permanence    Praise Be To God

Hope    Spirit     Autonomy

Listen    Evil    Courage

States    Idols    Expansion

Capacity    Beauty/Majesty    Forgiveness

Intentions    Obedience    Knowledge

Seeker    Dreams    Heedlessness

Expectations    Equality    Blessings

Otherness    Prophets    Unveiling

Deputy    Humility    Jealousy

To order Streams to the Ocean, you may use either of the following venues: