In the name of God Almighty. The truth is the Truth has many forms, and many religions, sects and spiritual practices are stretched on the face of earth like gardens of Eden. But in the west only very few of them are known. For one thing, a western resident is mostly and mainly aware of Christianity in some limited forms of Catholicism, Protestantism and others. Apart from this, in recent decades some schools of Yoga from India and some forms of Buddhism from Asia reached the West, and many westerners became their followers.
Other than these two brands, other forms of spirituality are unknown to the large majority of aspiring westerners, and just as they always have to choose between two candidates in their elections they also have to choose between Christianity and Indian yoga/meditation in their spiritual quests.
The present work presents lesser known spiritual traditions prevalent in the ancient world, with branches still existing in Mesopotamia and Persia. It can be titled a "non-Christian non-Indian" spirituality. But this is not to despise Christian or Indian paths of spirituality, or to exalt and exaggerate the alternative we are preaching here.
As a follower of what we call "pure religion" or "Pakdini" in this book, it is bound for the author to adhere to the ideals of humility and respect. Making discrediting and derogatory remarks are far from these. Indeed the author experienced both Chrisitian and Indian traditions and benefited from them. He does not claim superiority over western or Indian intellectuals and saints.
The main goal of this work, then, is to reveal something that is new to a western reader, something overlooked, something hidden that is exposed now. It is presenting an alternative that some readers may find interesting, and perchance might answer some of their questions.
This is indeed an inspired work, and is written as a compilation of teachings. And in accord with the longstanding western tradition it is written in the mode of prayer and state of grace, and in accord with Indian tradition it is written in the mode of transcendent mind and not a mere intellectual word jamming. Thus, this work of "non-western" and "non Indian" purpose indeed conforms with both western and Indian modes of spirituality and shares value with them. This is because in the realm of Truth there is no west or India, nor Mespotmia nor Persia, but is all endless light whose color is colorless and whose name is nameless.
They talk about a mystic gathering called "Bazm Mohabat" (symposium of love) where devotees of Truth sit to dine. And in that table it's been observed that a prince sits in front of a pauper. For in the domain of spirit the monarch and the masses, caste and color, all lose their significance and are but shades on the surface. Deeper down, the distinctions in regard to west vs Indian, and Indian vs Persian, etc all disappear in higher meaning as rivers flow into the same sea and disappear. So this work is not really about a "new spirituality" but about an alternate shade of the same commodity, and is not about a "new age" but an ongoing continuum.
This work is not written for any benefit other than the benefit of others. For as it will be expounded in later chapters, the base of this spirituality we are promoting in this book is duty, good work and service, and not much rituals, mass prayers or mindfulness meditation. Consequently, this work is not for sale and is available for free. Nor the work itself attempts to sell any propaganda or agenda.
The author is anonymous as this is not the place to seek name or fame, or money and market. The fame is purely for the Divine. The author is a simple seeker and wrote down these as part of daily service. The inspirations and wisdom in this book belong to God only, and God is the owner of this enterprise and magnificence. The author was just the typist of these words.
This work occasionally contrasts its points with western or Indian teachings. It is mainly for the sake of further clarification and elucidations of the points to the reader who is assumed to be more familiar with western or Indian traditions. It is not to demote and discredit these traditions. Yet the work does not fall short of pointing out errors and deviations, as the poem says: "As you see the blind and the bore (hole), sin it is if you remain silent and ignore."
The work is not written to appeal to anyone or any group, but presenting Truth in its barest form. It is sharp, it can cut, it can burn. An ancient proverb says: "Truth is bitter". But yet a true Truth-seeker will feel sweetness and a light in his heart as reading through this work, and this will testify to the truth of these writings.
To further amplify this effect, it is recommended that this book be studied in a quiet place, and in a quiet hour after work and after some worship or any other kind of spiritual meditation. And when the mind is calm, then read this book at a slower pace than usual, try to sip each sentence and contemplate on its meaning. That's how holy and worthy books should be read. A fast go-over of this book in a bus or in a short break within a busy schedule won't open up the doors of knowledge hidden in its chest. The location of reading this book is also important to be private and proper.
There are fourteen chapters in this book, divided in two groups of seven. Seven is a symbolic number in many religious traditions. It is the number of stages the soul has to ascend before reaching its final destiny. Heaven is also said to have seven stations. Rostam, a mythical hero in Persian legends, had to pass through seven ordeals before killing the archdemon and releasing the captives. Esfandiar, another mythical hero, had to go through seven ordeals as well before capturing the "castle of iron" and releasing the king's daughter. Every great effort is accomplished in seven steps and stages.
The first seven chapters explain the path, and the next seven chapters explain the anti-path. The first seven represent how to ascend the stations of heaven and the next seven represent how to prevent falling into stations of hell. For seven is the number where both light and darkness reach their maturity, and heaven and hell, path and anti-path will manifest at the same time according to destiny. And by this, the author prays that he and the reader both be on the path and not the anti-path, and the increase of knowledge and illumination take place.