Attending an interfaith conference recently, Shaykh Nazim, author of this volume, was asked the question by the Orthodox Pope: "Why are troubles increasing in our time?" In his famously pithy manner, Shaykh Nazim replied, "did Satan take a vacation?" Thus in this book, the Master of the Naqshbandi-Haqqani Sufi Order focuses on the interference of Satan, the lower self, and negativity in the lives of human beings today and the many remedies available to those who seek spiritual solutions. Utterly pragmatic, Shaykh Nazim does not suffer fools who refuse to do the work of self-realization needed to prevent their lives from sliding down the slippery slope of cynicism and despair into affliction, depression and possibly even self-destruction. Rather he demands they face their problems head on, pick themselves up, reverse self-loathing and self-pity and seek the therapies needed to cure their spiritual-and often related-physical ailments. This book is a veritable toolbox for those seeking to raise the bar of spiritual gamesmanship to pursue not only normalcy but further themselves to attain championship status in the realm of the divine.
