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The meaning of man: The foundations of the science of knowledge
"The means to the dismantling of the suicide pact in which this age seems trapped can be found in these pages. Here is a method, the application of which brings liberation - not, as is clear from the book's central theme, an apolitical freedom, but a total transformative restoration of man as a human animal who is benign to his own inwardness and to the outwardness of his brothers. He is in no danger to society and society can not endanger him."
Hardcover
Published January 1, 1988
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 24, 2021
I bought this book at quite a hefty price, but a sum I wish to forsake due to the promise of the title. I have been exposed to Sufistic metaphysical and ontological system for quite some time now, in the cast of Ibn 'Arabi and the Malay mystics under al-Raniri especially, so I was hoping for a supplement for the Unity of Existence system so prevalent among the Sufis.
The book is quite thick, opened with the sentence, "This is the most important book written by man". And what follows in the Introductions are scathing remarks against the current systems and the monolith of modernity.
I am currently around 100 pages into the book, but unfortunately I found no united system of "The Foundation of the Science of Knowledge". This book is essentially a manuscript written by a Darqawi sheikh and its title, or perhaps the subtitle was given by its interpreters rather by the sheikh himself. The book consists of the sheikh's sayings, mostly about the stations of the wayfarer in the Path primarily, and of course in the inset there's snippets here and there on the metaphysical and ontological system the sheikh trying to convey.
I'm sure this book has so many to share, but it is simply not the thing I want to read now. Despite the scathing Introductory remarks, I am but a simple student wishing to learn, and I need a clear and ordered system that I can properly learn the vast sea of Sufism. I've been to few Malay zawiyya and the sheikhs would also provide some sayings according to the topic they wish to share. I'm sure his followers would take note of his teachings, and perhaps gather them in a book. But nowhere I have seen in the Malay world, a collection of sayings would be given a bulky and promising title as this book. It would remain as a book of sayings.
So, if you're a student who really wish to grasp a methodical view of Sufistic metaphysical system, I would not recommend this book. But if you seek passages of pearl and golden wisdom, or perhaps you're a motivator or a quote-seeker, then this book is for you. I only wished the person who go out of his way to write such fiery Introduction, would spare his time to write in the cover whether this book is a manual or a collection of sayings. Sorry, I am not a rich person so I really want to put my money into the greatest use. This book might have a use if I'm satisfied with sayings or in consolidating my experiential knowledge, but right now I simply want the fundamentals and the ordered system to learn. :/
*I've searched in the Internet about this book. As the book's genre is quite niche, so understandably there's not much of info about this book. The infos would most of the time would be the things like how this book is going to change my life etc., which I thought the book would be as impactful as al-Ghazzali's Niche of Light or al-Raniri's Lataif. That's why I bought it.
The book is quite thick, opened with the sentence, "This is the most important book written by man". And what follows in the Introductions are scathing remarks against the current systems and the monolith of modernity.
I am currently around 100 pages into the book, but unfortunately I found no united system of "The Foundation of the Science of Knowledge". This book is essentially a manuscript written by a Darqawi sheikh and its title, or perhaps the subtitle was given by its interpreters rather by the sheikh himself. The book consists of the sheikh's sayings, mostly about the stations of the wayfarer in the Path primarily, and of course in the inset there's snippets here and there on the metaphysical and ontological system the sheikh trying to convey.
I'm sure this book has so many to share, but it is simply not the thing I want to read now. Despite the scathing Introductory remarks, I am but a simple student wishing to learn, and I need a clear and ordered system that I can properly learn the vast sea of Sufism. I've been to few Malay zawiyya and the sheikhs would also provide some sayings according to the topic they wish to share. I'm sure his followers would take note of his teachings, and perhaps gather them in a book. But nowhere I have seen in the Malay world, a collection of sayings would be given a bulky and promising title as this book. It would remain as a book of sayings.
So, if you're a student who really wish to grasp a methodical view of Sufistic metaphysical system, I would not recommend this book. But if you seek passages of pearl and golden wisdom, or perhaps you're a motivator or a quote-seeker, then this book is for you. I only wished the person who go out of his way to write such fiery Introduction, would spare his time to write in the cover whether this book is a manual or a collection of sayings. Sorry, I am not a rich person so I really want to put my money into the greatest use. This book might have a use if I'm satisfied with sayings or in consolidating my experiential knowledge, but right now I simply want the fundamentals and the ordered system to learn. :/
*I've searched in the Internet about this book. As the book's genre is quite niche, so understandably there's not much of info about this book. The infos would most of the time would be the things like how this book is going to change my life etc., which I thought the book would be as impactful as al-Ghazzali's Niche of Light or al-Raniri's Lataif. That's why I bought it.
December 24, 2019
As much as I understand this book so far, it's one of the roots of Jungian psychology. Jung said that he was inspired by the mystics that he met in North Africa when he was younger, these people would have almost certainly have been Sufis. This book seems to fit with this idea.
The thing I see in this book is that it goes further than Jung's interpretation, because it talks of the facets that make up human personality in a way that's devoid of judgement, hence allowing us to see how they marry with all things in the universe. To understand this is to understand ourselves, to understand where we are in the scheme of things, which is a rather elegant and wonderful signpost for us all to follow.
I am not sure if my interpretation is correct, I have many things to learn, but I praise those who live their lives in the service of others. Thanks.
The thing I see in this book is that it goes further than Jung's interpretation, because it talks of the facets that make up human personality in a way that's devoid of judgement, hence allowing us to see how they marry with all things in the universe. To understand this is to understand ourselves, to understand where we are in the scheme of things, which is a rather elegant and wonderful signpost for us all to follow.
I am not sure if my interpretation is correct, I have many things to learn, but I praise those who live their lives in the service of others. Thanks.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews