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Paths to the Heart Sufism and the Christian East James Cutsinger 9780941532433 Books

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Paths to the Heart Sufism and the Christian East James Cutsinger 9780941532433 Books

Any Traditionalist would be insane not to pick up this book. Even though I don't belong to either tradition discussed, the parallels are beyond a shadow of a doubt. It's also a great conversation starter between someone who is Orthodox and another who is Muslim. Often Muslims are demonized in the West, and I hope this helps to shed some of that.


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Paths to the Heart Sufism and the Christian East James Cutsinger 9780941532433 Books Reviews

aside from gnosticism and the essences (and the more buddhistic/mazdaian silk road forms of a less patriarchical 'christianity' and already dyed heavily with the wisdom of the pre-islamic sufis!), this book distills some wisdom of the two best aspects of islam and christianity...if anything, hesychasm and certain sufi practices/paths truly transcend these worn out labels (of christianity and islam...).

if you follow the more fundamentalist viewpoint...very contracting/centrifugal, not open and expansive/centripetal, don't
raise a fuss at the ecumenical gesture this book (re)presents.
A perusal of current media in print, radio and television reinforces the observation that we are living in a time when the cultures of the Middle East are portrayed as ideologically opposed to the West. At the core of our alleged differences is the role of Islamic fundamentalism with its hegemonic determination to dominate cultures both in the Middle East and abroad. Such views are not new. The "clash of civilizations" theory of Samuel Huntington had already proposed and popularized this understanding in the mid-1990s. At a time when this perspective is gaining momentum, it is helpful to seek a corrective to a myopic understanding of Islam that often accompanies Huntington's theory; namely, that Islam is nothing more than Wahhabism. Moreover, a historical reexamination of Christianity's own understanding of God can be beneficial for "Westerners" who tend to understand their own religious heritage typically through modern Protestant lenses, which often leads to the positing of false dichotomies between Islam and Christianity, seeing them as mutually exclusive with no common ground. By reconsidering the mystical theologies of each religion it can be shown that a fundamental convergence occurs in the mystical thought and experience of each tradition. In particular, this inner commonality can form the basis of a deeper conversation between Christians and Muslims than has been typical in our day, aiding in a clearer mutual understanding of the similarities that exist between the fundamental religious traditions of our cultures. To this end, Paths To The Heart is an excellent beginning.
As Thomas Merton said in his Conjectures
"Le point vierge is in everybody, and if we could see it we would see the billions of points of light coming together in the face and blaze of a sun that would make all the darkness and cruelty of life vanish completely...I have no program for this seeing. It is only given. But the gate of heaven is everywhere."
May we seek the gate of heaven everywhere.
Reading "Paths of the Heart" was a true learning experience. In an age of strained relations between Christians and Muslims (and a time in which widespread ignorance of each others Traditions exist) this book could prove immensely helpful. If you know anything about Eastern Orthodoxy in the English speaking world you have probably heard of Bishop Kallistos Ware. Bishop Ware presents an excellent chapter on the Jesus Prayer and the way of entering the heart. The same can be said of Seyyed Hossein Nasr - That is, if you are at all knowledge regarding Islam in America you have probably read one of his books or at least heard of him before. Nasr's chapter on the Mercy of God alone is worth the price of the book.

If anyone is interested in previewing a chapter of this book before they purchase it I would recommend checking out James Cutsingers web page. On his page you can find the chapter " Hesychia, an Orthodox Opening to Esoteric Ecumenism" - [wont let me put the web address just Google " James Cutsinger, Hesychia, an Orthodox... "]

To comment on a previous review Yes, Hesychasm is not recognized as "mainstream Christianity" in most Western denominations but it is perfectly mainstream among Orthodox Christians (including those living in the west). It's also compatible with the teachings of many of the great Catholic Mystics and Saints. Read "The Invocation of the Name of Jesus As Practiced in the Western Church" by Rama Coomaraswamy for evidence of this.
As an individual who takes great interest in all the topics in this book, I found the book enlightening on several grounds. For one, the collection focuses not only on what is shared and common to both the Eastern Christian Hesychast path and Sufism, but the authors feel comfortable enough to be honest about their Tradition's perspective(s), including where these two represented do not agree. As well, the collection does not shy away from the depth of its topics; there is no cutting corners; this is a full course meal.

Coming to the text with a background in Western Christianity and years of studying Sufism as well, I left the text with a new enthusiasm and interest in the Eastern Christian world. Just to read about the lofty states of some Eastern Christian saints was a grace.
A heavenly gift... Replete with meaning.
Loved the meditative prayers at the end of Huston Smith's contribution!!!
Any Traditionalist would be insane not to pick up this book. Even though I don't belong to either tradition discussed, the parallels are beyond a shadow of a doubt. It's also a great conversation starter between someone who is Orthodox and another who is Muslim. Often Muslims are demonized in the West, and I hope this helps to shed some of that.