In this book, the author delves into fundamental questions in the theory and practice of Sufism. The book is based on his own personal experience of mysticism. In accessible language, the author enlightens the reader on the secrets of mystical knowledge and mystic practices, discussing in detail how these practices should be performed and under what conditions. The book is unique for having been written by a contemporary mystic and containing both knowledge of the essence of the Sufi tradition and a deep knowledge of the mindset of the contemporary seeker. An open-minded reading of the book may prove an invaluable aid to the individual work of a true seeker.

The sketches presented in this book contain practically no full biographical information of any kind about the lives of its subjects. They are devoted to research about their mission, message and what the Sufis call the Work. I wrote about those whom I consider to be really great mystics although not all of them are recognized as such. I didn’t begin to limit myself to only an analysis of the activity of specific Teachers, but included in the book several essays on the later stages of the Sufi Way and methods of transmitting knowledge. In my view, they enable the reader to understand more fully and deeply the situation in which any real mystic finds himself. In this book, I propose answers to many questions that I know for sure torment many seekers. I hope that it will be useful to them as for all those in general who are interested in the Way – in the widest most sense of that word. After all, the experience of the Work of every mystic is the most valuable knowledge, available to us in an ordinary state of perception.

I have written this book for myself. For myself trying to master the basics of meditation eighteen years ago. I did lack the detailed, step-by-step guidance describing the key aspects on the path to awareness. Of course, this book does not have all the answers to all the questions the Seeker might have. But it has the keys that will take the Seeker to the answers. Life is a great mystery composed of numerous smaller secrets. The one who has keys is capable of revealing some of them.

Questo libro contiene materiali che ci consentono di comprendere i processi che avvengono nella nostra mente e nella sfera emotiva, nonché di apprendere le leggi della loro interazione. Descrive come, con l'aiuto del potere della propria coscienza, si possono influenzare i modelli emotivi e mentali, liberandosi da essi. Alcuni capitoli sono dedicati ai desideri, insoddisfatti o soppressi, e alla questione di cosa farne.

Affinché il libro non si trasformi in una raccolta di articoli sulla psicologia pratica, sono stati aggiunti capitoli di contenuto mistico, destinati alla contemplazione e alla riflessione attiva sul loro significato esplicito o nascosto.

Ho scritto questo libro per me stesso. Per colui che diciotto anni fa ha cercato di padroneggiare le basi della meditazione. Mi mancava davvero una guida dettagliata che delineasse le domande chiave sul percorso verso la consapevolezza. Naturalmente, questo libro non risponde a tutte le domande che un ricercatore potrebbe avere. Ma contiene indizi che condurranno il ricercatore alle risposte. La vita è un grande mistero che include molti misteri più piccoli. Colui che ha le chiavi è in grado di rivelarne alcune.