Al-Ghazali on Disciplining the Soul and on Breaking the Two Desires

The in-depth spiritual practices used by traditional Islam are explored in “Al-Ghazali on Disciplining the Soul and Breaking the Two Desires.” Abu Hamid al-Ghazali explains how riyadat al-nafs, or the internal struggle against the ego, is the first step in the spiritual life in the first section, “On Disciplining the Soul.” In the second section, “Breaking the Two Desires,” gluttony and unbridled lust are examined in more detail. These ageless lessons provide insightful guidance for anybody pursuing self-mastery and spiritual improvement.