Sufism and the Way of Blame: Hidden Sources of a Sacred Psychology

Dr. Yannis Toussulis’ book is the first to detail the relationship between Sufism and the "Way of Blame" in all of its historical phases up to, and including, the present era. Dr. Toussoulis lays out the gradual development of both, western and eastern Sufism, as well as pinpointing the discrepancies between the two. If ever there were a definitive book on the cultural life of Sufism and its controversial relation to Islam this is it. The "Way of Blame" originally designated a group within larger Sufism that focused on the psychology of egoism and engaged in self-critique (Arabic malam, or "blame"). Later, the term most often referred to those Sufis who incurred blame by shunning Islamic literalism and formalism, thus becoming worthy of "blame." The spiritual path of Sufism itself, as explained, is a lifelong practice of study and mysticism in order to become "perfect mirror(s) in which God contemplates Himself." Sufism and the Way of Blame incorporates the work of preceding scholars and attempts to surpass them by bringing the study of Sufism up to date. Toussoulis makes extensive references to current interpretations of Sufism by G. I Gurdjieff, J.G. Bennett, and Idries Shah, as well as by scholars such as Frithjof Schuon, Martin Lings, and Seyyed Hossein Nasr (among others). The book incorporates earlier findings and Dr. Toussoulis’ personal research in tandem with a living representative of the Way of Blame in Turkey today, Mehmet Selim Ozich. This interdisciplinary work critically examines popular and scholarly conceptions about Sufism as a whole; then proceeds to examine the role that the "Way of Blame" played in the development of Sufism. And in its closing chapters, the book presents an up-to-date paradigm of psycho-spiritual development that is still being used today by classically oriented Sufis who practice a human-centered approach to spiritual transformation. Sufism and the Way of Blame is for anyone who seeks to become more culturally aware of Islam or its esoteric aspects.

296 pages

About the author: Yannis Toussulis, Ph.D.— is the current director of The Center for Human Inquiry in Emeryville, California where he teaches and conducts research in the practice of cross-cultural negotiation, leadership skills, and contemplative practices. In this and other endeavors Dr. Toussulis combines academic qualifications in intercultural psychology and human science research with practical expertise gained from his thirty-year long experience in Mental Health Services. He conducts a separate private practice as a family psychotherapist (M.A., LMFT #11962) in Emeryville, Califronia. Dr. Toussulis earned his doctoral degree in Psychology with an emphasis in human science research from the Saybrook Institute (1995). His dissertation was entitled Faith as A Lived-Experience: A Phenomenological Study. Dr. Toussulis also holds an M.A. in Psychology with an emphasis in Existential Counseling and Psychotherapy from Lone Mountain College (1975). While teaching Psychology, Mythology, Comparative Religion, and Culture Studies at Antioch University/West for over fourteen years, Dr. Toussulis served five of those years as the Co-Director of the Consciousness Studies Program in the Graduate Department of Psychology. For the past ten years he taught the psychology of intercultural conflict as an Adjunct Professor at the Graduate School of International Policy Studies, Monterey Institute of International Studies, and he has also served as an Associate Faculty Member at the Starr King Divinity School at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California. Dr. Toussulis has over twenty-five years experience in designing and directing workshops and seminars. His offerings have been sponsored by Esalen Institute, the Association for Humanistic Psychology, the Association for Transpersonal Psychology, and numerous other organizations. He has held led traveling workshops in Greece, Turkey, Egypt, and Indonesia. Dr. Toussulis has also lectured for organizations as diverse as The United Nations Development Project, the University of California Extension Program, Global Majority (a non-violent conflict resolution group) and the Egyptian Society for Scientific Research (Cairo). Today Dr. Toussulis resides in Emeryville, CA and can be reached via Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/toussulis