Map of a Human Being
INFORMATION ABOUT PUBLICATIONS
At present this website can only go to a certain depth and breadth of wisdom illumination. If you are touched by the precepts presented here, you may want to study them deeper and submerge yourself in their bounties. With this in mind I have culled together a list of printed, audio and video works that I think can accomplish this. Ten books about the core precepts of the Map are available for purchase from this webstie.
These publications fulfill several purposes:
Some are linked directly to further exposition of the precepts presented on the Map of a Human Being.
Most can be read as stand-alone texts.
There is a suggested chronological order to the publications, if you are relatively new to a wisdom tradition, as listed below.
Most are ‘oral books,’ spoken discourses, changed little to preserve the accuracy of the delivery. This will make them a little harder to read for some people.
The material is very dense and should not be read like a novel, but savored in the way a cow chews grass, very deliberately, with great contemplation.
At present the sale of these publications is the only financial support for this website outside of my own contributions.
WISDOM BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:
Bawa Muhaiyaddeen rarely spoke exclusively on one subject, but integrated the negative and positive aspects into each talk creating a tapestry of learning.
Titles not by Bawa Muhaiyaddeen will have their author listed.
Nature of the mind, world and soul - core teachings:
The Guidebook To The True Secret of the Heart, Vol. 1 & 2 (Available from Map of a Human Being Bookstore)
God, His Prophets and His Children
When I first heard Bawa Muhaiyaddeen speak many of the Map precepts had been explained before and he could not re-explain them for every discourse. So these guidebooks are where we all started with the core teachings. This is where the great sorting begins. The clarity about the world, soul, mind, God, form versus formlessness, etc., will be illuminated. In this volume there are chapter headings like: Peace, The Mind, The Camera, The Soul, Beyond Form. Through these talks, I believe, you will begin to see life in a more accurate way. This will inform much of what you do. Your decisions will be informed by extra wisdom, making them more agreeable to your life. I believe all these volumes can enhance any spiritual or philosophic tradition. Most books have a glossary and some are indexed.
Divine Luminous Wisdom That Dispels The Darkness
More of the core teachings with a large Q & A section with over a hundred and fifty wisdom exchanges. Especially for those more familiar with the Hindu or Buddhist tradition. These exchanges happened in the early 1970s when Bawa Muhaiyaddeen was centered mainly in the north of Sri Lanka among a predominantly Hindu population. Again the reader would benefit from reading vol. 1 & 2 of the Guidebooks first.
The qualities of God - core teachings:
Asma’ul Husna: The 99 Beautiful Names of Allah (Available from Map of a Human Being Bookstore)
These have been written and explained through the ages. Also called the qualities of God. Qualities like: mercy, compassion, forgiveness, generosity, patience, subtlety, strength, reconciliation, etc. If there is a description of God, this is it. And all the qualities are performable by human beings. These qualities form the essence of the phrase “I (God) created you in my own image.” The image is not physical, but the actualization of these qualities.
The list of names can be read as a very potent meditation exercise. Or, a single name can be recited 3, 11, 33, 99, or 300 times as a form of meditation, as we reflect on and sink in its meaning. There is a great effect on the heart when all 99 are read in one session with detailed explanations from the book, or you can print out a simple list from the Map of a Human Being website here.
This volume also contains explanations about the precept of the redirected heart. There are several explanations about powerful prayer phrases that can help us in our daily lives. This book contains an essential part of the core teachings. Most books have a glossary and some are indexed. Paperback, 4 x 5 3/4", 211 pages. (Fellowship Press)
The Four Relgions - core teachings:
Four Steps To Pure Iman (Faith) (Available from Map of a Human Being Bookstore)
Hinduism/Buddhism, Zoroastrian/Zen, Christianity, Judaism/Islam: One within the four - four within the one. Together these religions form the essence of spiritual completeness and were never meant to be separated. This is His-story, God's story that was revealed for Man's benefit. However, some current interpretations of scripture and traditions may not be divinely inspired, but distortions/additions by self-interested parties. We all have to progress from idol worship to formlessness. Canonical law, the path, divine merging, and gnosis. The four steps to pure faith. They are states of understanding contained within all authentic spiritual traditions. In Hinduism they are known as, sariyai, kiriyai, yogam and gnanam. In Islam they are known as shariat, tariquat, hakiquat, and marifat. This is the path of progression out of karma and towards the Absolute. This book contains an essential part of the core teachings. Paperback, 5 1/2 x 8", 68 pages. (Fellowship Press) Reading Guidebook Vol. 1 & 2 first would support understanding.
Love - core teachings:
Book of God’s Love (Available from Map of a Human Being Bookstore)
A small book with four chapters: True Love, Forgiveness, Cultivating the Heart, Eternal Youth. In today’s world people use the word love to mean so many things. Here we read about a love that is not contingent upon the world. This is the zenith of love from which we can measure all the other loves. In the chapter on forgiveness we are left with no doubt as to the nature of God with regard to this subject and therefore our responsibility with it also. This is a very healing chapter. This is a very healing book. I think we can safely say that modern culture is obsessed with eternal youth. What this chapter clearly shows is that all physical things change and that the only eternity is to be found within. It clearly reveals the correct state to foster eternal youth. It is an observation of mine that those who have the most serene inner state are also those who look the most youthful, even in older age. We keep applying these magic potions to our shell, when in fact youthfulness emanates from within our being. This is a great companion book with The Wisdom of Man. Both books contain essential illumination of the core teachings. Pocket size, 115 pages. (Fellowship Press)
Wisdom - core teachings:
Wisdom of Man (although all the books contain wisdom) (Available from Map of a Human Being Bookstore)
Devotional Songs - core teachings:
Songs of God's Grace (Available from Map of a Human Being Bookstore)
During one of my early visits to Bawa Muhaiyaddeen, in the middle of a discourse he started to sing. This was a bit of a shock to me. No one else seemed surprised so I soon got over it and listened. Through the vibration of song, many explanations were given. There is a great yearning in these songs. If life has been difficult for you, this is where you will find some soothing balm. Sometimes my mood demands that only the Song Book will fulfill my inner needs. Many of his songs were recorded and are available on CD also. This book is currently out of print, but I have some of the 1973 version still available. Paperback, 5 1/2 x 8", 154 pages. Reading Guidebook Vol. 1 & 2 first would open up the meaning of the songs further. (Fellowship Press)
Explanatory Discourse - core teachings:
The Fast of Ramadan: The Inner Heart Blossoms (Available from Map of a Human Being Bookstore)
I call this book, The View From the Ocean of Divine Knowledge. I think the Fast Ramadan title limits its scope. It was called this because many of the talks were given during the month of Ramadan. Many of these talks actually happened during my first six month exposure to Bawa's teachings. They were my introduction. Bare in mind that many of his American students had been with him for a few years by this time, so there wasn't the need to explain concepts like 'monkey mind' or 'dog of desire.' For folks like me just coming in the door, I headed for the bookstore and devoured Guidebook Vol. 1 & 2, so that I could catch up with the core teaching references and get more out of these multilayered explanations. That is why I have put it here in the study order. Because if you have read the books that come ahead of this you will get more out of these talks.
Enough For a Million Years (Available from Map of a Human Being Bookstore)
These nuggets of wisdom were given by Bawa Muhaiyaddeen in response to people's needs over a short period of time. He said there is enough wisdom in them to last for a million years. That is why this paperback pocket-sized, 80 page compendium was assembled. Ideal for carrying and reading when a spare moment presents itself. The texts answer such questions as: How can I remove my fears? What is the purpose of life? What old habits and beliefs keep me from being who I want to be? Does God test us? What is the root cause of our problems? How does God hear us? And many more points. It can be read without knowledge of the core teachings, but, yes, Guidebook Vol. 1 & 2 will make the text more expansive.
Creation as divine signs - core teachings:
My Love You My Children: 101 Stories for Children of All Ages (Available from Map of a Human Being Bookstore)
Creation as University
At one point in our interactions with Bawa Muhaiyaddeen we mentioned to him the need for wisdom illustrations for our children. What followed were daily outpourings of short stories and mainly analogies using the creation to enlighten us. Although they can be used to communicate ethical and wisdom life principles to children, in this collection we are shown the way of looking at the natural creation as the ‘verses of the divine.’ Like the original Aesop’s tales, these texts introduce us to the methodology of seeing each creation as containing a wisdom lesson. Many enlightened teachers throughout time have used the examples of the positive and negative traits of flora and fauna to hone our humanity. This publication shows us how to sift meaning from the creation in order to serve the core teachings. Large paperback, 475 pages. I would say it can be read as a stand-alone book, but the 101 stories and analogies would be more deeply understood after reading Guidebook Vol. 1 & 2. It is a great book to use as a daily or weekly meditation. For example, read an illustration in the evening and then carry the lesson with you for 24 hours or a week. (Fellowship Press)
Come to the Secret Garden: Sufi Tales of Wisdom (Fellowship Press)
Creation as University
Another volume of the above.
Prayer:
Dikr: The Remembrance of God (Fellowship Press)
Student/Teacher relationship:
Sheikh and Disciple (Fellowship Press)
Questions and Answer Format:
Questions of Life, Answers of Wisdom, Vol. 1&2 (Fellowship Press)
Divine Luminous Wisdom That Dispels The Darkness (Fellowship Press)
Truth and Light: Brief Explanations (Fellowship Press)
Audio - Visual:
For audio or video click this link, this will take you to the Fellowship Press website which is not affiliated with this site:
http://www.bmfstore.com/Scripts/prodList.asp?idCategory=25
More Wisdom Texts:
Conference of the Birds - author: Attar (12th century CE!)
One bird decides to go in search of enlightenment and invites all the other birds to join him. What follows is basically a book of excuses about why they cannot!
The Screwtape Letters - author: C.S Lewis
A letter exchange between an older devil and his nephew. It is really a book about how not to be human, masterfully written.
Marcus Aurelius Meditations - author: Marcus Aurelius (2nd century CE)
Deep personal reflections by a man of obvious wisdom who was also leader of an empire.
The Great Divorce - author: C.S. Lewis
A man dies and goes to a kind of purgatory. But once a year the bus goes to heaven on a day trip. If you can lose your resentments and negative qualities you might gain entry. Many prefer to keep their attachments.
The Bhagavad Gita - an important chapter of the Hindu epic, the Mahabharata. (about 5th century BCE)
It is an incredible explanatory wisdom exchange between Krishna and Arjuna a warrior.
The Drop That Became The Sea - Yunus Emre (Get the Kabir Helminski & Refik Algan translation) (about 13th century CE)
Sacred poem/songs about the state of humankind, and being in the divine presence.
The Essential Rumi - translation: Coleman Barks
A large volume covering many subject categories from the 13th century mystic Rumi. One of the most read poets in America today.
One Song - author: Michael Green
For those who are visually oriented, view mystical artist Michael Green’s numinous illustrations and sayings in this volume.
The Book of Mirdad - author: Mikhail Naimy
An interesting story dramatizing the demise of a spiritual community.
The Cloud of Unknowing - Author unknown (about 13th century, maybe Julian of Norwich)
Gnosis level Instructions, from a spiritual teacher, conveyed to a novice.
Dark Night of the Soul - John of the Cross ( Get the Mirabai Starr translation)
Using the vernacular of the Map we would call this the dark night of the mind.
I recommend a subscription to Parabola magazine, which is not affiliated with this website - www.parabola.org
