By IBNA, *Iranians cognize their culture's value* - Iran Book News Agency- Tehran, IranWednesday, August 11, 2010
During the session held yesterday in the Philosophy Institute, Iranian mysticism and Sufism expert, Leonard Lewisohn said: "I am an American and I am interested in Iranian mysticism and Sufism. You, Iranians, are certainly aware of your culture's value but here is an advice from a stranger; don’t underestimate your great past heritage. Persian literature is like a half done wall, the rest of the wall should be built by others."
IBNA: Lewisohn delivered his lecture Tuesday evening in the Philosophy Institute. During the session he talked about the unity of religions in Persian language.
Talking about the similarities of phenomenology and Sufism he said:" Both the groups believe that research is a factor to reach belief, as they are similar in research and introspection." He said that the researchers of adaptation religions in the west adapt 8 principles of phenomenology with Iranian Sufism basics. The principles are; valuing description, explanation description, intellectual affairs description, quoting in parenthesis, empathy and sympathy, describing the phenomenal according to it, adaptation studies and methodic misunderstanding.
He went on to say that being against monopolization is among other similarities, he added.
Moreover reading a part of Ein-alqozat Hamedani book as a confirmation he added: "Henry Corbin has penned a 4 volume book, "About Iranian Islam, in which the similarities of Sufism and phenomenology is explained."
He went on to say that in Sufism 4 types of religion's unity exist of which "Unity of ethics romance" is one.
In order to confirm his words he read some of Sa'adi and Bayazid poems and texts.
He believes that Sufism is the column of unity which is explained in Golestan as well.
Talking about the subcategories of Romantic Unity he said that love religion could be another group and added: "Sufis believe that the religion is beyond all others."
Talking about subjective unity he said that even Rumi has considered such a matter. Moreover he has said that the ways to reach God is equal to the number of people.
Furthermore he said that according to Max Weber religion is human's relations alongside supernatural forces which is mostly revealed as prayers and language. But Sufis don’t think so.
Talking about another type of unity, Divine Unity he said that this is only related to Muslims; All Muslims are brothers.
During the modern life many wars and conflicts occur among a religion's followers. My words are not political but since Mansour Halaj Iran had a program which could create international understanding for Muslims.
Moreover he said that many Muslim countries undermine themselves while the freedom of words and dynamism of law existed in these countries following the Renascence era. Even George A. Makdisi has authored a book on the filed which unfortunately hasn’t been translated into Persian.
Finally he said that I am an American and I am interested in Iranian mysticism and Sufism. You, Iranians, are certainly aware of your culture's value but here is an advice from a stranger; don’t underestimate your great past heritage. Persian literature is like a half done wall, the rest of the wall should be built by others."
Lewisohn was one of the winners of the 15th edition of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s International Book of the Year Awards for his book “Attar and the Persian Sufi Tradition”.
Leonard Lewisohn is an Iran Heritage Foundation fellow and has been a lecturer in classical Persian and Sufi literature at the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies of the University of Exeter in England since 2004.
Born in 1953, Lewisohn traveled to Iran in his 20’s as an English teacher, but his interest in Persian literature led him to study at the University of Shiraz. He later traveled to London to continue his studies in Persian literature at the School of Oriental & African Studies. He obtained his Ph.D. in Persian literature in 1988.
“The Angels Knocking on the Tavern Door, Thirty Poems of Hafez (2008, coauthored with Robert Bly), “The Heritage of Sufism” (1999) and “Beyond Faith and Infidelity” are some of his published books.
During the session held yesterday in the Philosophy Institute, Iranian mysticism and Sufism expert, Leonard Lewisohn said: "I am an American and I am interested in Iranian mysticism and Sufism. You, Iranians, are certainly aware of your culture's value but here is an advice from a stranger; don’t underestimate your great past heritage. Persian literature is like a half done wall, the rest of the wall should be built by others."
IBNA: Lewisohn delivered his lecture Tuesday evening in the Philosophy Institute. During the session he talked about the unity of religions in Persian language.
Talking about the similarities of phenomenology and Sufism he said:" Both the groups believe that research is a factor to reach belief, as they are similar in research and introspection." He said that the researchers of adaptation religions in the west adapt 8 principles of phenomenology with Iranian Sufism basics. The principles are; valuing description, explanation description, intellectual affairs description, quoting in parenthesis, empathy and sympathy, describing the phenomenal according to it, adaptation studies and methodic misunderstanding.
He went on to say that being against monopolization is among other similarities, he added.
Moreover reading a part of Ein-alqozat Hamedani book as a confirmation he added: "Henry Corbin has penned a 4 volume book, "About Iranian Islam, in which the similarities of Sufism and phenomenology is explained."
He went on to say that in Sufism 4 types of religion's unity exist of which "Unity of ethics romance" is one.
In order to confirm his words he read some of Sa'adi and Bayazid poems and texts.
He believes that Sufism is the column of unity which is explained in Golestan as well.
Talking about the subcategories of Romantic Unity he said that love religion could be another group and added: "Sufis believe that the religion is beyond all others."
Talking about subjective unity he said that even Rumi has considered such a matter. Moreover he has said that the ways to reach God is equal to the number of people.
Furthermore he said that according to Max Weber religion is human's relations alongside supernatural forces which is mostly revealed as prayers and language. But Sufis don’t think so.
Talking about another type of unity, Divine Unity he said that this is only related to Muslims; All Muslims are brothers.
During the modern life many wars and conflicts occur among a religion's followers. My words are not political but since Mansour Halaj Iran had a program which could create international understanding for Muslims.
Moreover he said that many Muslim countries undermine themselves while the freedom of words and dynamism of law existed in these countries following the Renascence era. Even George A. Makdisi has authored a book on the filed which unfortunately hasn’t been translated into Persian.
Finally he said that I am an American and I am interested in Iranian mysticism and Sufism. You, Iranians, are certainly aware of your culture's value but here is an advice from a stranger; don’t underestimate your great past heritage. Persian literature is like a half done wall, the rest of the wall should be built by others."
Lewisohn was one of the winners of the 15th edition of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s International Book of the Year Awards for his book “Attar and the Persian Sufi Tradition”.
Leonard Lewisohn is an Iran Heritage Foundation fellow and has been a lecturer in classical Persian and Sufi literature at the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies of the University of Exeter in England since 2004.
Born in 1953, Lewisohn traveled to Iran in his 20’s as an English teacher, but his interest in Persian literature led him to study at the University of Shiraz. He later traveled to London to continue his studies in Persian literature at the School of Oriental & African Studies. He obtained his Ph.D. in Persian literature in 1988.
“The Angels Knocking on the Tavern Door, Thirty Poems of Hafez (2008, coauthored with Robert Bly), “The Heritage of Sufism” (1999) and “Beyond Faith and Infidelity” are some of his published books.
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