Category: The Jewelled Garden

Thus, he could commit an error and not regret it. He could succeed without being proud. But what is a true man?  The true man of old did not mind Continue Reading →

Very little is known about the Persian poet and philosopher Baba Afzal Kashani (d. ca. 1213 CE).  His writing indicates a disdain for officialdom, which could explain his imprisonment at Continue Reading →

The Sufi mystic and poet Fakhruddin Iraqi (1213 – 1289 CE) was born in Persia, but travelled widely in his life before ending his days in Damascus.  He was both Continue Reading →

Dara Shikoh (1615-1659 CE) was the eldest son and heir apparent of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan, remembered as the builder of the exquisite Taj Mahal as a tomb for Dara Shikoh’s Continue Reading →

Awhad al-Din Kirmani (1163–1238 CE) was born in Kirman, in present day Iran, and travelled widely during his life, finally passing away in Baghdad.  He attracted many students; once he was Continue Reading →

The mystical poet Kabir Das probably lived somewhere in the eastern half of north India in the fifteenth century; it is difficult to be precise about his life because from Continue Reading →

Hasidic Judaism arose in what is now western Ukraine during the 18th C, emphasising the all-pervading, omnipresent nature of the Divine Presence, and the necessity to hold fast to God Continue Reading →

Omar Khayyam (1048-1131 CE) was born in Nishapur, in northern Persia, and was famous during his lifetime as an astronomer and mathematician, producing, among other achievements, a method for solving Continue Reading →

Mohammad Shirin Maghribi (1349-1406 CE) was a native of Tabriz, but was called ‘Maghribi’ because he travelled in the Maghreb region of North Africa.  He was a student in the Continue Reading →

How can sober Reason understand the drunkenness of Love? How can Reason solve the mystery of Love? Reason is like a drop removed from the ocean; how can this drop Continue Reading →