Ibn Arabi

Mystic, philosopher, poet, sage, Muhammad Ali Ibn Arabi (1165 AD -1240 AD) is one of the world’s great spiritual teachers. Known as Muhyiddin (the Revivifier of Religion) and the Shaykh al-Akbar (the Greatest Master). He wrote over 350 works including the Fusûs al-Hikam, an exposition of the inner-meaning of the wisdom of the prophets in the Judaic-Christian-Islamic line, and the Futûhât al-Makkiyya, a vast encyclopedia of spiritual knowledge which unites and distinguishes the three strands of tradition, reason and mystical insight. He died in Damascus, revered and respected among his contemporaries, leaving a rich and profound legacy of works.

When you enter into His Paradise you enter into yourself.

My voyage was only in myself, and only pointed to myself. This is a journey to increase knowledge and open the eye of understanding.

Ib’n Arabi he was born in Andalusia, the center of an extraordinary flourishing and cross-fertilization of Jewish, Christian and Islamic thought, through which the major scientific and philosophical works of antiquity were transmitted to Northern Europe. Ib’n Arabi’s spiritual attainments were evident from an early age, and he was renowned for his great visionary capacity as well as being a superlative teacher.
In his Diwân and Tarjumân al-Ashwâq he also wrote some of the finest poetry in the Arabic language. These extensive writings provide an exposition of the Unity of Being, the single and indivisible reality which simultaneously transcends and is manifested in all the images of the world. Ibn ‘Arabi shows how Man, in perfection, is the complete image of this reality and how those who truly know themselves, know God.

There is nothing outside of you, so do not hope to know yourself through other than yourself, for there is no such thing.

Busy yourself with yourself.

Until one sees one’s self, one seeks everything outside of oneself, while all there is, is in oneself.

There are three dangers which may keep you from examining yourself, making the accounting of your acts, and being thankful to your generous Lord. The first of these dangers is unconsciousness, heedlessness. The second is the flood of tastes and desires that gush from your ego, your lower self. The third is bad habits, in fact all habits, which make one like a machine. The one who can protect himself against these three dangers, with God’s help, will find salvation in both worlds.