The ideal perfection, called Baqa by Sufis, is termed 'Najat' in Islam, 'Nirvana' in Buddhism, 'Salvation' in Christianity, and 'Mukhti' in Hinduism. This is the highest condition attainable, and all ancient prophets and sages experienced it, and taught it to the world. Baqa is the original state of God. At this state every being must arrive some day, consciously or unconsciously, before or after death. The beginning and end of all beings is the same, difference only existing during the journey. There are three ways in man's journey towards God. The first is the way of ignorance, through which each must travel. It is like a person walking for miles in the sun while carrying a heavy load on his shoulder, who, when fatigued, throws away the load and falls asleep under the shade of a tree. Such is the condition of the average person, who spends his life blindly under the influence of his senses and gathers the load of his evil actions; the agonies of his earthly longings creating a hell through which he must pass to reach the destination of his journey. With regard to him the Qur'an says, 'He who is blind in life, shall also be blind in the hereafter.' The next way is that of devotion, which is for true lovers. Rumi says, 'Man may be the lover of man or the lover of God; after his perfection in either he is taken before the King of love.' Devotion is the heavenly wine, which intoxicates the devotee until his heart becomes purified from all infirmities and there remains the happy vision of the Beloved, which lasts to the end of the journey. 'Death is a bridge, which unites friend to friend' ( Sayings of Mohammed). The third is the way of wisdom, accomplished only by the few. The disciple disregards life's momentary comforts, unties himself from all earthly bondages and turns his eyes toward God, inspired with divine wisdom. He gains command over his body, his thoughts and feelings, and is thereby enabled to create his own heaven within himself, that he may rejoice until merged into the eternal goal. 'We have stripped the veil from thine eyes, and thy sight today is keen', says the Qur'an. All must journey along one of these three paths, but in the end they arrive at one and the same goal. As it is said in the Qur'an, 'It is He who multiplied you on the earth, and to Him you shall be gathered.'

Hazrat Inayat Khan set forth ten thoughts, which form the basic creed of Universal Sufism: * There is one God the Eternal, the Only Being, None exists save God * There is one master the Guiding Spirit of all souls, who constantly leads all followers toward the Light. * There is one Holy Book the sacred manuscript of nature, the only scripture that can enlighten the reader. * There is one Religion the unswerving progress in the right direction, toward the Ideal, which fulfills the life's purpose of every soul * There is one Law, the Law of Reciprocity, which can be observed by a selfless conscience together with a sense of awakened justice * There is one Family, the human family, which unites the children of Earth indiscriminately in the parenthood of God * There is one Moral Principle the love which springs forth from a willing heart, surrendered in service to God and humanity, and which blooms in deeds of beneficence * There is one Object of Praise, the beauty which uplifts the heart of its worshipper through all aspects, from the seen to the unseen * There is one Truth the true knowledge of our being, within and without, which is the essence of Wisdom * There is one Path the effacement of the limited self in the unlimited, which raises the mortal to immortality, in which resides all Perfection The Classic title is now available in print. For this title in ebook, or audio book format please contact us at www.zuubooks.com

Inayat Khan wrote this short book for his friends who wanted an introduction to Sufism. The book includes an autobiography of the author as well as information on the Sufi thought of various things, like, nature, God, the Personal Being, Dual Aspect, worship, truth, and self knowledge. A good primer for those interested in Sufism and its concepts.