This book constitutes a comprehensive investigation of the life and teachings of one of the most famous Sufis of the Iranian world. Simnānī spent his early life as a courtier at the Ilkhanid Mongol court and was a cherished companion of the emperor Arghun. After a mystical experience on the battlefield, he turned his back on a life of luxury and became a Sufi. He advanced rapidly in his spiritual quest and soon became one of the most influential Sufi masters in Iran. Working primarily from the most Arabic and Persian manuscripts of Simnānī’s writings, the author has analyzed Simnānī's thinking to show the overall coherence of his world-view and to demonstrate the importance of his ideas to the development of Islamic mysticism. Along with this analysis, the author provides a detailed account of Simnānī's life and times, as well as a systematic description of Simnānī's instructions for Sufi practioners of all levels.

Morsels Of Musings is a compilation of poems on the world around us. There are poems on flowers and trees; on Celeste, Sol and stars; on love and romance, that special someone who makes life worth living: on life with its multi faceted emotions with an imploration to live and 'seize the day'. Some poems are of the senses, some that reach the heart and some that will tickle the funny bone. Poetry written with a flair, different from the brazen literature of today, written with respect for the English language and arts.

This is a 14th-century biography of the famous Persian mystic poet and ‘Knower of God’, Jalāl al-Dīn-e Rūmī, in the form of a large compendium of Sufi-style teaching stories. It was commissioned by a grandson about fifty years after Rūmī’s death. The author-compiler, Aflākī, includes chapters on Bahā’-e Valad (Rūmī’s father), Shams al-Dīn-e Tabrīzī (Rūmī’s great love), Solṭān Valad and Amīr ‘Āref (Rūmī’s son and grandson), and other transmitters of the spiritual Heritage of the Mowlavī dervish order. The protagonists are portrayed as performing miracles and confronting critics and rivals. Circumstantial detail abounds, thus providing one of our few windows onto social and political life during the Saljūq and Mongol period in Asia Minor. The translation has an extensive index of persons and concepts to assist readers and students.

A sweet tooth is a powerful thing. Babies everywhere seem to smile when tasting sweetness for the first time, a trait inherited, perhaps, from our ancestors who foraged for sweet foods that were generally safer to eat than their bitter counterparts. But the "science of sweet" is only the beginning of a fascinating story, because it is not basic human need or simple biological impulse that prompts us to decorate elaborate wedding cakes, scoop ice cream into a cone, or drop sugar cubes into coffee. These are matters of culture and aesthetics, of history and society, and we might ask many other questions. Why do sweets feature so prominently in children's literature? When was sugar called a spice? And how did chocolate evolve from an ancient drink to a modern candy bar? The Oxford Companion to Sugar and Sweets explores these questions and more through the collective knowledge of 265 expert contributors, from food historians to chemists, restaurateurs to cookbook writers, neuroscientists to pastry chefs. The Companion takes readers around the globe and throughout time, affording glimpses deep into the brain as well as stratospheric flights into the world of sugar-crafted fantasies. More than just a compendium of pastries, candies, ices, preserves, and confections, this reference work reveals how the human proclivity for sweet has brought richness to our language, our art, and, of course, our gastronomy. In nearly 600 entries, beginning with "à la mode" and ending with the Italian trifle known as "zuppa inglese," the Companion traces sugar's journey from a rare luxury to a ubiquitous commodity. In between, readers will learn about numerous sweeteners (as well-known as agave nectar and as obscure as castoreum, or beaver extract), the evolution of the dessert course, the production of chocolate, and the neurological, psychological, and cultural responses to sweetness. The Companion also delves into the darker side of sugar, from its ties to colonialism and slavery to its addictive qualities. Celebrating sugar while acknowledging its complex history, The Oxford Companion to Sugar and Sweets is the definitive guide to one of humankind's greatest sources of pleasure. Like kids in a candy shop, fans of sugar (and aren't we all?) will enjoy perusing the wondrous variety to be found in this volume.

This is the only volume dedicated to the Alevis available in English and based on sustained fieldwork in Turkey. The Alevis now have an increasingly high profile for those interested in the diverse cultures of contemporary Turkey, and in the role of Islam in the modern world. As a heterodox Islamic group, the Alevis have no established doctrine. This book reveals that as the Alevi move from rural to urban sites, they grow increasingly secular, and their religious life becomes more a guiding moral culture than a religious message to be followed literally. But the study shows that there is nothing inherently secular-proof within Islam, and that belief depends upon a range of contexts.

Presents problems from probability, number theory, combinatorics, and geometry, and provides ingenious solutions and/or intriguing results.

Dancing through Life with Guts, Grace & Gusto is a collection of inspiring women's stories on work, on life, on purpose - their rediscoveries and reawakenings for living life in tune with their hearts and sustaining themselves through transitions. It's about embracing change with courage, humor, adventure and wisdom in search of love, happiness, health, wealth and well-being. Recapture your indomitable spirit, then get ready to soar! What every woman needs to dance through all of life's twists, turns, and transitions. Dancing through Life with Guts, Grace & Gusto is both an inspirational resource and instructional guide to fulfill your destiny to: -Attract abundance & manifest your dreams -Sustain yourself through times of transition -Practice safe stress, take time for yourself & laugh out loud -Enjoy supportive relationships -Recognize your ability to create a succulent life -Express yourself as a fully "gustomized" woman "Guts, Grace & Gusto is filled with grand, not giddy, wisdom which can free you from your own boundaries. The authors prove that when life isn't the party you hoped for, it's time to start dancing." - Madelyn Jennings, (Retired) Senior Vice President-Personnel, Gannett Co., Inc., Chair-Executive Committee, The Freedom Forum "Step by magical step, these talented 'walkers on the pathway of challenges' have set forth the equally magical choreography of how every woman can choose to DANCE her way over, beyond and through those very same type of challenges. Be prepared to have your feet moving to the beat of well-being and healthy choices as you read your way through this impressive Dance Class of Life." - Bob Danzig, Former CEO, Hearst Newspapers, Author & ProfessionalSpeaker

The Debate picks up where The Group leaves off. Danny had finished his tense sessions with The Group, made up of self styled student philosophers. At the end of the final session Peter Grayson challenges Danny to a campus wide debate, scheduled for the first Saturday in March. Dean Moreland had approved of the debate. On a personal note, Danny spends a marvelous Thanksgiving with the Lowrys while Karen spends a very exciting and event fi lled week at the Carters for Christmas. Much drama ensues as Karen discovers that she looks amazingly like Dannys sister, Mary, and then Mary springs a Christmas shocker surprise on everyone. Meanwhile, Peter Grayson discovers that solid facts that support the naturalist position are few and far between. Because of this, the EU administration is furious that Danny was not soundly defeated in the campus debate on creationism vs. naturalism. They are even more furious when Danny is forced to reveal that he is planning to bring a Christian club onto campus. The tension that develops from this angst sweeps up the reader in the culminating chapter of the book, as one realizes what a great price must be paid by those who go into the elite venues of the world to be a witness.

The love language of the Cape Malays is food, and author Cariema Isaacs says tramakasie (thank you) every day that she gets to express herself in this way. Modern Cape Malay Cooking, Cariema’s fourth cookbook, is a celebration of food and feasting, providing a contemporary view of Cape Malay cuisine and simple home cooking. The recipes showcase a blend of flavours that redefine the Cape Malay palate through modern ingredients and global influences. Though traditional Cape Malay cuisine and recipes have stood the test of time, adaptations have given rise to a culinary fusion. This is especially thanks to the Cape Malay millennial generation that craves popular dishes from the East and West, such as a comforting pasta or a quick stir-fry, but with a Cape Malay twist – this means it must be spicy, it must be saucy and it must be packed with flavour! In Modern Cape Malay Cooking, Cariema shares the recipes and influences that have inspired these modern dishes, with simple ingredients and vibrant aromatics for anyone who is curious and courageous enough to create flavour.