The Shambhala Guide to Sufism

Rating:
Summary: A Solid Summation, not so invigorating presentation
Review: For those studying Islam, Ernst's introduction to the "mystical" tradition of tasawwuf provides a well-rounded overview of the significance of Sufi practices, interpretation, and philosophy. He makes little attempt to solidify the term "Sufism," however, insisting that in orientalist usage it has been a construct of recent origin, with the aim of splitting the more highly respected esotericism from the dry legalism of Islam (partially in attempting to explain the Sufi tradition as an offshoot of other mystical traditions, rather then "native" to Islam). Ironically, many Islamicist reformers (which he traces to some extent from the puritanical 'Abdul-Wahhab, who ravaged shrines of Sufi saints and Shi'a notables in an effort to purify Islam of their perceived taint) attempting to excise perceived extraneous and thus corrupting influences to pristine Islam, have tried to do nearly the same thing. Though I find his post-modernist disavowal to dismiss the fantastical elements of Islamic and Sufi belief as tripe, and his over-reaching aim to find the most congenial face of Islam all too typical, I felt I profited by reading Ernst's book. His PhD training certainly didn't aid him in creative writing, however, and if his stated purpose was to reach those outside of his specialty, his style of writing is an abysmal failure. But I suppose I am just spoiled by those writers who are able to introduce novel angles towards longstanding subjects, who rather than writing merely from a skeletal outline, are able to infuse their pages with chutzpah. In other words, they provide a helping of entertainment with their edification. If he had gone so far as to get out of the library (other than the few short and dull remarks he makes about being present at a few Sufi functions), I thought that he could have interviewed Sufi personalities, fans of qawwali (a type of Sufi music), etc. But I would suppose that would abolish the pretenses of the "objective" scholar, disdainful of mere journalism, living solely in a dimension of pure thought energy, free from emotion of any stripe.

Rating:
Summary: Good of this Sort
Review: It's probably easier to define what this book is NOT, rather than what it is. It is not a compendium of Sufic thought or Sufi lore, so if that's what you're looking for, look elsewhere. Fortunately, there are any number of other books that can satisfy your curiosity in these areas.
What this book tries to do is perhaps more difficult - sort out the various Sufi organizations worldwide and provide some intelligent guidance on their affiliations, origins and characteristic beliefs. Some may balk at the suggestion of approaching Sufism in this way; however, anybody who has spent some time in the Middle East can confirm that on a day-to-day level the Sufic brotherhoods often act as nothing more esoteric than any other faith-based fraternal organization you may find in the West, and most of their members are far from being spiritual masters.
On this basis the book purports to help the would-be spiritual seeker get his bearings. I would say there is a need for such a book, and anyone interested in Islamic spirituality as it is currently practiced would probably gain much from this guide.

Rating:
Summary: Good Supplement, but Start Elsewhere
Review: This book's greatest strength is also its greatest weakness: Ernst writes his introduction to Sufism from a strong socio-historical standpoint with both eyes focused on Orientalism, that is, how the West has portrayed Islam (among other traditions) in ways that have been less than accurate. This is welcome. Yet, in focusing so much on socio-historical issues, Ernst ends up sacrificing the larger picture of what it is that Sufism is about phenomenologically and theologically.

Ernst does explain some things quite well, though, such as the development of Sufi orders, the role of the shaik to the disciple, art, dance, and meditation practices. Particularly fascinating is the brief discussion on the relationship between Islamic fundamentalism and Sufism. Sufism is viewed by the fundamentalists as a type of heretical pseudo-Islam, and the Sufis have been persecuted and killed in many places by over-zealous fundamentalists. What Ernst's book shows is that many of these supposedly heretical practices are actually rather traditional expressions of Islamic mysticism and spirituality, with roots stretching back quite far.

Socio-historical perspectives aside, though, you won't learn much about the spirit of Sufism. For that, I would recommend Annemarie Schimmel's _Mystical Dimensions of Islam_ as an excellent place to start. Then, for a greater insight into socio-historical issues, you may continue with reading Ernst's book.