Dissolving into Being

5,Dissolving into Being is an introduction to Sufi philosophy, a tradition based on theteachings of Ibn 'Arabi (d.1240), Sufism's most influential master. His voluminouswritings offer a treasury of wisdom, yet their vintage and complexity can limit theirpurview to experts. To help bridge the gap between specialized studies of Sufiphilosophy and a broader readership, Dissolving into Being offers a moderncommentary on key passages of Ibn 'Arabi's foremost work, The Gemstones ofWisdom, drawing out its profound insights on the unity of life, the reality of loveand the mysterious nature of destiny, death and what follows. In the process ofdoing so, the book explores key elements of the Islamic Sufi-tradition and offersan overview of the Sufi path of spiritual transformation, all the while pointing to thedeep resonance of Sufi philosophy with other religions and philosophies.Although such works are much more widely available for other (what we might call) mysticalphilosophical traditions, there is little available on Sufi philosophy that is notexplicitly oriented towards a strictly academic readership.