Page vii and viii -
Preface: "The Sufi tradition is far too vast and diverse to attempt anything
like a definitive statement about what it entails, but few would deny that there are
unifying themes."
Commentary: If
the author is going to include, somewhat indiscriminately, all the works of
‘enthusiasts’, irrespective of the authenticity or quality of these works, and
all the works of so-called Sufi teachers, irrespective of whether such people actually are
legitimate shaykhs, then, one might suppose that what is being labeled as the "Sufi
tradition" is, indeed, vast, diverse, and exceedingly difficult to state in
definitive terms. If, however, the author does not intend to include all of these
pseudo-teachings under the heading of "Sufi tradition", then, until one knows
just what he means by the Sufi tradition, one is not in a position to judge whether the
author is correct in saying that the Sufi tradition is "too vast and diverse to
attempt anything like a definitive statement".
On the other hand, if
there are unifying themes within the Sufi tradition - and there are - then, one wonders
why these unifying themes can’t be used to construct a fairly accurate description -
as far as such descriptions go - of the nature of the Sufi Path. Such a construction will
not be definitive, since that which is, ultimately, ineffable and trans-rational cannot be
encompassed by purely conceptual discourse, but one need not be concerned about the
definitiveness of a description as long as the latter points one in the right direction
and provides useful and accurate information concerning the nature of the Sufi Path.
In fact, perhaps, with
the right set of unifying themes, a lot of the vastness and diversity to which the author
is alluding may come to be understood as variations on certain central principles. Indeed,
one might venture to maintain that if the Sufi tradition were as vast and diverse as the
author alleges, then, trying to find a starting point, let alone a Path to follow, would
be next to impossible - but such is not the case, and there is a long history running
through the Sufi mystical tradition which is capable of countermanding such a position.
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