Preface
In the Name of Allah The Most Beneficent The Most Merciful
It gives me immense happiness indeed to write this preface in The Name of Allah, The Rasool, The Qutub and His Holiness Bawa Muhaiyaddeen.
This book, “The Pearl of Wisdom” is the English translation of one of His Holiness Guru Bawa’s earliest works, “Guru Mani”. My friend, Abdul Cader, who under divine inspiration undertook this onerous task is one, whom I feel, is eminently suitable for the translation of this highly mystical book into English.
Abdul Cader has an expansive knowledge of both English and Tamil languages, having had his secondary education at the prestigious Jaffna Hindu College, Sri Lanka and subsequently, his university education at the Columbia University, New York, USA.
Besides, these mundane qualifications, Abdul Cader has been a close devotee of His Holiness for many years and has sat at the feet of the Guru, his Sheikh, to listen to His discourses. It is Abdul Cader’s spiritual involvement with his Sheikh, that makes him the most suitable for this work. The translation is therefore, a clear rendition of His Holiness’ original Tamil version. The essence of “Guru Mani” has been brought out in this book, “The Pearl of Wisdom”.
It is a symbol of the translator’s love, dedication, devotion and reverence towards his Sheikh, Bawa Muhaiyaddeen.
May Allah’s Grace and Bawa Muhaiyaddeen’s blessings be upon Abdul Cader and his family for rendering this translation for those who are in the pursuit of Truth.
Dr P Balachanthiran
A Vice-President of Serendib Sufi Study Circle,
Colombo, Sri Lanka.
10th December 1999