The Illuminated Prayer

The Illuminated Prayer: The Five-Times Prayer of the Sufis

by Coleman Barks and Michael Green

Ballentine Books, New York, New York        © 2000        144 pp.

Michael Green and Coleman Barks collaborated on the “Illustrated Rumi” and are together again to create an artful, inspiring book of Sufi prayer.  Drawn from traditional Islamic teachings on Salat (prayer practice), the book covers both ritual prayer as well as Dhikr, or continuous prayer.  The book also contains photos of the postures, and inspiring artwork by Green. 

Barks has sprinkled wonderful quotes from his teachers, Bawa Muhaiyaddeen and Jellaludin Rumi, that give further insight into the practice.  Here is an example from Rumi:  “Lo, I am with you always means when you look for God, God is in the look of your eyes, in the thought of looking, nearer to you than your self, or things that have happened to you.  There’s no need to go outside.  Be melting snow. Wash yourself of yourself.”

To visit the blog and see more reviews and quotes from books in the collection of Center for Sacred Sciences' Library, click here https://centerforsacredscienceslibrary.blogspot.com