In this episode I am once again joined by Dr. William Rory Dickson an associate professor of Islamic Religion and Culture at The University of Winnipeg and author of “Dissolving into Being: The Wisdom of Sufi Philosophy”.

Professor Dickson discusses Ibn ‘Arabi (1165–1240), an important Sufi poet and philosopher. Ibn ‘Arabi was described as the greatest master of the Way but has increasingly been seen as a controversial and heterodox figure by some within Islam.

Professor Dickson explores the historical tensions between the mystic and the cleric, describes Sufi meditation methods and the struggle to realisation, and considers extra-Islamic influences on Sufism throughout history.

Professor Dickson also reflects on Sufism’s interaction with American culture including the universalist new age movement, the failure of utopian models of worldwide religious harmony, and the retraditionalisation of religious orders such as the Inayatiyya.

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Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep277-master-of-the-way-prof-william-rory-dickson-2

Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.

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Topics include:

00:00 - Intro

01:14 - Orthodox to heterodox

05:44 - Who was Ibn ‘Arabi?

06:49 - A spiritual prodigy

10:34 - Leaving Andalusia and arriving in Damascus

12:33 - The greatest master of the Way

14:57 - Mystic vs cleric

17:23 - Political executions of sufis

19:12 - The need to read the room

19:54 - Periods of tension and integration

21:37 - The influence of patronage

24:18 - The struggle for spiritual realisation

27:47 - The visions and practice of Ibn ‘Arabi

29:12 - Embodying the 99 names of God

32:11 - Sufi meditation on the names of God

35:36 - The state of dhikr

36:20 - Ascetic practices

37:53 - Extra-Islamic influences on Sufi practice, historical and modern

46:54 - God brings prophets to all people

49:09 - Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan, Lex Hixon, and the New Age

58:04 - History of the Inayatiyya order

01:03:00 - Reformulating Sufism for an American audience

01:05:13 - Retraditionalisation in Inayatiyya

01:06:43 - The failure of modernist universalism

01:09:48 - Death of optimism

01:11:28 - Postmodernism vs perennialism

01:12:24 - Does Ibn ‘Arabi offer a synthesis of modern and post-modern perspectives?

01:16:17 - Rumi and the controversy of Coleman Barks

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Previous episode with Professor William Rory DIckson:

- https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep272-mystical-path-of-sufism-professor-william-rory-dickson

To find our more about Professor William Rory Dickson, visit:

- https://www.uwinnipeg.ca/experts-guide/william-rory-dickson.html

- https://anqa.co.uk/publications/dissolving-being

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For more interviews, videos, and more visit:

- https://www.guruviking.com

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James