Dissolving into Being the Wisdom of Sufi Philosophy

Dissolving into Being is a brilliant new introduction to Sufi philosophy, a tradition traced back to the works of Sufism’ s most renowned master, Ibn ‘ Arabi (d. 1240). To help bridge the gap between specialized studies of Ibn ‘ Arabi and a more general readership, Dissolving into Being highlights several of his insights, on subjects ranging from the origin of the world and the reality of love, to the nature of life after death, destiny, peace and conflict, and religious diversity, all through an exploration of his masterwork Gemstones of Wisdom (Fusus al-hikam).

William Rory Dickson is associate professor of Islamic Religion and Culture in the Religion and Culture Department at The University of Winnipeg, Canada. His research focuses on contemporary Islam in general, and on Islamic mysticism (Sufism) in particular. His previous publications include Living Sufism in North America (2015).

Introduction 1. What does it mean to be human? Adam's Secret and the Wisdom of Divinity 2. The Abrahamic Paradigm: the Wisdom of Love and the Mystery of Destiny 3 What Does it Mean to Have a Heart? Shu‘ ayb and the Heart’ s Wisdom 4 Jonah and The Wisdom of Breath: Compassion,Remembrance and Life after Death 5 What do you Really Know? The Transcendent Wisdom of Elijah– Enoch 6 Things are Even Stranger Than You Think: Moses and the Wisdom of Sublimity 7 Between Divinity and Humanity: Jesus and the Wisdom of Prophecy 8 Muhammad and the Wisdom of Singularity: Marrying Sense and Spirit