Love is the Wine: Talks of a Sufi Master in America - Softcover

This book presents an intoxicating mix of essays to satisfy the spiritual thirst of those with long experience in Islam, as well as those encountering Sufism and the meaning of spiritual love for the first time. Themes including generosity, faith, self-knowledge, patience and love are developed with stories and teachings by Turkish Sufi master Sheikh Muzaffer Ozak. A mesmerising storyteller, master teacher, and prolific author in his native country, he was ideally suited to bring the richness of the Sufi tradition to the West. The chapters of this book, skilfully edited and compiled by the psychologist and Sufi teacher Dr Robert Frager, were derived from talks given during Sheikh Muzafffer's visits to New York and California over the last years of his life. Sheikh Muzaffer Ozak understood Westerners as almost no Sufi master before him has. His religious bookshop in Istanbul attracted hundreds of Western seekers visiting Turkey. In his travels, he initiated hundreds of Americans and Europeans into the Halveti Jerrahi Order, interpreted their dreams, and answered their questions about everything from theology and mysticism to marriage and earning a living. These stories and teachings are memorable, yet highly enigmatic, and meant to be told and retold. Like great spiritual parables, the themes are universal and their applications ageless. The astute reader will appreciate new levels of meaning in these profound teaching tales with each reading. "Love is the Wine" is a treasury filled with priceless items of Sufi wisdom.

Sheikh Muzaffer Ozak Al Jerrahi Al Halveti (1916-1985) was one of the head sheikhs (spiritual teachers) of the Halveti-Jerrahi order of dervishes, a traditional Muslim Sufi order from Istanbul. Well known in Europe & the US for conducting dzikrs (public services in remembrance of God and in Turkey for his Sufi hymns. Born in Istanbul, he was educated by a succession of wise teachers in both traditional Islam & Sufism. He became Imam (religious leader) at several mosques, then left to run an antique/rare bookshop in the famous Istanbul book market. A prolific author in the Turkish language.