Dissolving into Being is an introduction to Sufi philosophy, a tradition based on the
teachings of Ibn 'Arabi (d.1240), Sufism's most influential master. His voluminous
writings offer a treasury of wisdom, yet their vintage and complexity can limit their
purview to experts. To help bridge the gap between specialized studies of Sufi
philosophy and a broader readership, Dissolving into Being offers a modern
commentary on key passages of Ibn 'Arabi's foremost work, The Gemstones of
Wisdom, drawing out its profound insights on the unity of life, the reality of love
and the mysterious nature of destiny, death and what follows. In the process of
doing so, the book explores key elements of the Islamic Sufi-tradition and offers
an overview of the Sufi path of spiritual transformation, all the while pointing to the
deep resonance of Sufi philosophy with other religions and philosophies.
Although such works are much more widely available for other (what we might call) mystical
philosophical traditions, there is little available on Sufi philosophy that is not
explicitly oriented towards a strictly academic readership.
