Illuminating the Shadow:
The Life, Love and Laughter of a 20th century Sufi
Selected, edited and with notes by Neil Douglas-Klotz
Illuminating the Shadow collects the Sufi writings of Moineddin Carl Jablonski (1942-2001), the spiritual successor of Samuel L. Lewis, founder of the Dances of Universal Peace and originator of a branch of the Chishtia Sufi lineage currently called the Sufi Ruhaniat International.
The book weaves autobiography, letters, poems, articles and interviews to provide a unique glimpse of an illuminated Western-born mystic. Jablonski faced enormous inner and outer challenges as he sought to establish an authentic, living Sufi tradition in the West.
“A book of subtle messages which will challenge and inspire any serious seeker, regardless of ethnic or religious background.”
—Muneera Haeri, author of The Chishtis: A Living Light and co-author with Shaykh Fadhlalla Haeri of Sufi Links
“This book illuminates, in his own words, the life of a gentle and gifted soul. Over the three decades I knew Moineddin Jablonski we enjoyed many intimacies, including countless hours of music-making, the study of Sufism under his guidance, and open, spacious darshans. I thought I knew him well. But in reading Illuminating the Shadow I received a newly clear, coherent picture of the whole man in all his glories and tortures, and I’ve come to love him as never before. Thanks to this savvy presentation of his writings, Moineddin’s vision can now light the way for many more seekers of the realized life.”
—W. A. Mathieu, author of The Listening Book and Bridge of Waves
“Moineddin Jablonski came to a true realization of heart and manifested a capacity for great love. This helped him, in a natural and unassuming way, to guide and hold together the community of Murshid Samuel Lewis’ mureeds, which included various teachers who had been empowered by Murshid Sam or Pir Vilayat. Moineddin realized the need for all of us to acknowledge the psychological realm where we are often at the mercy of our ego-demands.
“He took on the difficult task of getting everyone to see that they would be held accountable for their actions. His numerous letters and writings clearly reveal his depth of thought. And while his manner was saintly and refined, at the same time he stood eternally strong in his relationship with his teacher and united with the great blood stream of Oneness, in which we live and move and have our being. He worked for harmony between all the lineages that trace themselves to Pir-o-Murshid Hazrat Inayat Khan. All this and more made him a highly effective Pir, as this excellent book bears witness.”
—Wali Ali Meyer, co-author of Physicians of the Heart
“…a rich compendium of anecdote and teaching of the eclectic and universalist shaman, Moineddin Carl Jablonski, direct heir to Samuel Lewis, Sufi and Zen master. Illuminating The Shadow is an important read for anyone interested in the Light and Shadow of our human story, and the journey of the soul. Douglas-Klotz adds to the current mystical wisdom stream with this poignant exposition of the life, love and laughter of this Sufi leader and humble practitioner.”
—Mariam Baker, author of Woman as Divine: Tales of the Goddess
“We are indeed entering a new era of humanity, a time of massive inner and outer change and growth. Earth herself is giving birth to what she must become. Upheaval—personal, societal, and geologic—are the labor and birth pangs which will create greater consciousness of spiritual reality for all. As each one of us is moved into Soul-consciousness, and we are being so moved, we will select our own modes of spiritual realization. What we now know as ‘Sufism’ will become vastly expanded and transformed. It will be like the reported meeting of Inayat Khan and Nyogen Senzaki. They entered samadhi together, ‘and Sufism and Zen became like yesterday’s dream.'”
—Moineddin Jablonski
393 pages paperback and also on Kindle ebook.
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