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the author of this blog is mentioned the mystic aspects of all major religions except Islam; was it done out of ignorance or intentional neglect? It's difficult

the author of this blog is mentioned the mystic aspects of all major religions except Islam; was it done out of ignorance or intentional neglect? It's difficult to guess. But it surely does point out an important issue when an "article" is presented: how do we know what is withheld, what is presented incorrectly? whether intentionally or not, it surely does point out the blind spot of unknown unknowns--and if readers know less than writers, then readers will never be able to fathom what was withheld. For instance, he mentioned Gurdjieff but Ibn Arabi was the giant of Mysticism--and continues to remains so to this day.

superb-owl 4y ago
I left out a heck of a lot more than Islam! No mention of Hindu or Christian or Jewish mysticism either. But I do love the Sufi poets. I'm unaware of any Islamic mysticism that specifically discusses multiplicity of self - any tips?
- wawjgreen 4y ago
  Thank you for your response. The Islamic Sufi tradition is simply an advanced level of traditional practice of Islam--a superbly intelligent interpretation that never deviates from the core principles; both Arabs and Persians have contributions in this sphere. Sheikh Farid-uddin Attar, resident of Neshapour (ancient Persia), mentions in one of his works (I translate, but it will not be perfect): "Don't let the self (your soul) become familiarized with the Demons-- for once you do, you become one yourself." In the context of his poem, the Demons refer to the proteges of Satan who cause us to commit sin--the ugly side of the Human being. In other words, if you do something ugly, you will still have your good self, but also now develop a bad self; the more bad you do, the more varieties of bad selves you will develop. Philosophic psychiatry (that blends religion with psychology, as suggested by Maslow) supports this view as well: recent (2011) paper on the New Unconscious confirms that humans are objectively good: our good self is always there. But when we deviate from this objective goodness, (to the degree that we deviate) we slowly face dissociation--multiple selves emerge as an after-effect. Elsewhere Hakim Nezami, resident of Ganja (now located in Azerbaijan), writes: "O, Thou, from Whom the Whole Existence has come about!" "The weak soil, become able from Thy Mercy!" While on the surface it may refer to how soil produces food per decree of the Almighty, it also refers to human beings (as we were made from soil originally); the reference to becoming able is in contrast to being weak--when committing sin and doing wrong: the bad self--while becoming able implies no longer being weak: developing the good self. There can be more but off-hand this should do. :)

superb-owl 4y ago

I left out a heck of a lot more than Islam! No mention of Hindu or Christian or Jewish mysticism either. But I do love the Sufi poets. I'm unaware of any Islamic mysticism that specifically discusses multiplicity of self - any tips?

wawjgreen 4y ago
Thank you for your response. The Islamic Sufi tradition is simply an advanced level of traditional practice of Islam--a superbly intelligent interpretation that never deviates from the core principles; both Arabs and Persians have contributions in this sphere. Sheikh Farid-uddin Attar, resident of Neshapour (ancient Persia), mentions in one of his works (I translate, but it will not be perfect): "Don't let the self (your soul) become familiarized with the Demons-- for once you do, you become one yourself." In the context of his poem, the Demons refer to the proteges of Satan who cause us to commit sin--the ugly side of the Human being. In other words, if you do something ugly, you will still have your good self, but also now develop a bad self; the more bad you do, the more varieties of bad selves you will develop. Philosophic psychiatry (that blends religion with psychology, as suggested by Maslow) supports this view as well: recent (2011) paper on the New Unconscious confirms that humans are objectively good: our good self is always there. But when we deviate from this objective goodness, (to the degree that we deviate) we slowly face dissociation--multiple selves emerge as an after-effect. Elsewhere Hakim Nezami, resident of Ganja (now located in Azerbaijan), writes: "O, Thou, from Whom the Whole Existence has come about!" "The weak soil, become able from Thy Mercy!" While on the surface it may refer to how soil produces food per decree of the Almighty, it also refers to human beings (as we were made from soil originally); the reference to becoming able is in contrast to being weak--when committing sin and doing wrong: the bad self--while becoming able implies no longer being weak: developing the good self. There can be more but off-hand this should do. :)