A Return to the Spirit

Book excerpt: This insightful autobiographical account details one man’s relationship with a spiritual master and how it led to a deep spiritual understanding of human life. The 96-year-old author, a respected British scholar, recounts the lessons learned from the Sufi sage, including the answers to profound questions such as Do religions contradict one another? What is the spiritual significance of tears and laughter? How does the Divine play a part in such simple acts? Do civilizations embody spirituality? and How is the Quranic definition of the afterlife related to Sufism? An appendix in memory of Dr. Lings includes tributes from Huston Smith and Wendell Berry, photos from Doctor Ling's, and excerpts from major obituaries.